Volunteer Needs From: United Way of Marathon County

We are looking for individuals to sew patriotic themed quilts/lap blankets, memory bears and/or pillows upon request. Memory bears and pillows are made from sentimental clothing that belonged to loved ones on our hospice services. We have memory bear patterns available. Please contact our office at 715-344-4541 or e-mail Volunteer Coordinator, Wendy, at wendy.fait@heartlandhospice.com if you are interested in this opportunity and helping us give this gift to our families who lost loved ones on our hospice services.

Faith in Action Marathon County (FIAMC) assists seniors 60 and older in Marathon County to stay safely in their homes. We provide them with transportation to Medical Appointments, Grocery Stores, General Shopping, and Personal Rides. We also offer Food Pantry Delivery and Friendly Visits in person or via phone.

We need a Volunteer to assist with our Intake Process. This role offers flexibility, as the Home Visit can be conducted in person or over the phone, allowing volunteers to contribute in a way that suits their schedule. The Intake Volunteer will assess the care recipient's needs and determine whether our program fits well. Once the Home Visit is completed, the Intake Volunteer will write a summary and return it to the FIAMC office.

For a FIAMC Volunteer application, phone: 715-848-8783, email: WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com, website: FaithInActionMarathonCounty.org

Share your time once or twice a month with Faith in Action Marathon County to make a significant difference in the lives of seniors living in rural areas.  Your help with transportation to medical appointments or grocery shopping is invaluable. 

Volunteers living in the outlying areas of Marathon County (Marathon, Mosinee, Athens, Birnamwood, Hatley, etc.) are needed to help seniors living in rural areas. Your assistance can make a world of difference.

We are receiving more applications from older adults living outside of Wausau but in Marathon County who need rides to doctors' visits or their local grocery stores.

When the need arises, volunteers are contacted and asked if they can provide transportation. We request a week's notice. The best part? No steady commitment is necessary. You can volunteer as often or as little as you would like, giving you the power to manage your time. 

Contact Jamie at Faith in Action, 715-848-8783, or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com to start a volunteer application.

Each December Faith in Action hosts our annual Christmas Care Drive called Gifts of Hope and mails Christmas cards and gift certificates to over 200 seniors in our area.  The gift certificates will be provided by FIA.  We are looking for HOME-MADE cards with envelopes. (No oversized, puffy, or odd-shaped cards, please, as these require extra postage.) Cards should be Christmas-themed and can be decorated however you like, please sign your first name and state that you are a Faith in Action volunteer.   Do not seal the envelopes, as we will also enclose gift certificates.  We are also looking for postage stamps to help cover the cost of mailing these cards. 

Please drop the cards off at our office by Thursday, November 28th, 2024. We are located at 630 Adams St, Wausau, WI 54403, in Immanuel Lutheran Church. Our office hours are 9am-2pm, Mon.–Thurs. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie at 715-848-8783 or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com.

Faith in Action of Marathon County (FIAMC) is growing - we need more driving volunteers to grow with us! Many seniors in our community don’t have family or friends that they can count on to help with transportation.

FIAMC provides area seniors with FREE transportation to the following within Marathon County:

- Medical Appointments

- Grocery Stores

- General Shopping

- Personal Rides for visiting spouse/family/friend in another facility, church, community activities, hair appointments, pharmacy, and visiting the library.

We have a very flexible volunteer driving schedule. You can volunteer as often or as little as you like. 

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and meaning, improves mental and physical health, and increases your social and relationship skills, all while giving back to our community.

For a FIAMC Volunteer application, phone: 715-848-8783, email: WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com, website: FaithInActionMarathonCounty.org

Community Closet Priority Needs

*Fall and Winter Clothing*

*NEW* Underwear All Sizes, All Genders

Maternity Clothes All Sizes

Scrubs All Sizes

Like New Shoes (sneakers) and Boots (Rain and Snow)

Girls - Youth Sizes

Boys - Youth Sizes

Men and Women's

Children’s Clothing 

Pants Size 2T and Up - Husky sizes appreciated!

Long Sleeve T's Size 2T and Up

Sweatshirts and Sweaters 2T and Up

*NEW* Underwear Size 2T and Up

Adult Summer Clothing 

Men's T-Shirts (short and long) All Sizes

Men's Blue Jeans All Sizes

Men and Women's Athletic Pants

Men and Women's Sweatshirts and Casual Sweaters

Babies 

18-monthth onesies, All Genders

Sleepers, 9-months-18-months, All Genders  

Starting September 2, 2025,25 The United Way of Marathon County Community Closet NEW donation hours are:

Monday 9AM-12PM

Tuesday 3PM-5PM

Wednesday 5PM-7PM

Friday 9AM-11AM

*For donations outside of these hours please email communitycloset@unitedwaymc.org in advance*

Please drop off your donations at the Community Closet garage. Come inside and a volunteer will be available to assist you! 

The Community Closet is located at 705 S. 24th Avenue, Suite 440. We share a building with T-Mobile, and the Community Closet is on the north side of the building.

Thank you for choosing to donate to the United Way of Marathon County Community Closet. Keep making a difference in your community!

Faith in Action delivers food pantry items from The Neighbors Place to Marathon County seniors who cannot easily leave their homes. Each Care-receiver receives two bags of groceries. Deliveries are made twice a month on Wednesday mornings. 

We are looking for substitute drivers to fill in when a regular Volunteer is out sick or on vacation. Routes typically take about an hour and a half. Each route consists of 4-8 deliveries and is grouped by location in Wausau, Rothschild, Schofield, or Weston. The Volunteer must be available to pick up the food pantry items at The Neighbors Place between 9:30 am and 10:30 am. The bags will be packed and ready to go. Permanent routes may be available in the future. 

Contact Jamie at Faith in Action, 715-848-8783, or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com to start a Volunteer application.

Friendly Visiting is part of Faith in Action of Marathon County's support system to keep seniors socially connected to the community. Social exchange is a vital link to mental health. 

The Friendly Visitor assists seniors in maintaining their identity, passing along their valuable knowledge and experience, and diminishes the growing problem of isolationism and loneliness.  

Enjoy developing a new friendship.

You would be assigned one or more seniors to call regularly. How many seniors you would like to connect with is up to you. You will then call them on a schedule that works for you and them (once a week, twice a week, once a month, etc.)

Contact Jamie at 715-848-8783 or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com.

Faith in Action Marathon County collects used inkjet/laserjet cartridges to exchange for funds that help us provide needed rides to area seniors.

The plastic zipper bags are used to sort the ink cartridges.  

The cartridges are sent to a recycling program that will reimburse us.

Please click this link to see if our recycling company accepts your type of cartridge.  

Every donation counts. Thanks for supporting Faith in Action Marathon County. You may bring your donations to us at 630 Adams St. (Immanuel Lutheran Church) Monday - Thursday from 9 am-2 pm. 

Call Jamie with any questions at (715)848-8783 or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com.

Faith in Action is now offering rides to seniors for personal appointments (including visits to spouses, family, and friends living in another facility or in the hospital, exercise classes, church and community activities, beauty salons and barber shops, etc.)

If you would be interested in providing these types of rides please contact Jamie at Faith in Action at 715-848-8783 or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com to start a volunteer application.

Faith in Action mails birthday cards to each of our Care-receivers and volunteers on an on-going basis. (30-50 cards each month)

We also mail Christmas cards to all of our Care-receivers. (200+ cards)

We are looking for help with postage.

Stamps can be dropped off at our office or ordered online and mailed to our office at 630 Adams St, Wausau, WI 54403.  Our office hours are 9am-2pm, Mon.–Thurs. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie at 715-848-8783 or email WausauFIAinfo@gmail.com.

You can greatly help our patients by making handmade items. We continue to need *Pocket Prayer Shawls*, Prayer Shawls, Twiddle Muffs, and always stuffed animals (must be homemade or new with tags). Also, veteran-themed lap blankets for our hospice veterans. Patterns are available upon request.

Your time and efforts are So Appreciated by our patients!

Bring your items for donation to Entrance A at Aspirus Wausau Hospital Reception Desk. Be sure to complete a donation form when dropping off (required).

Are you someone who loves writing thoughtful, upbeat letters? Want to volunteer from wherever you live, work, or play?

Turn your small talk into connection. A simple, sincere letter can brighten a senior’s day more than you know.

Join Letters Against Isolation, a volunteer-run project bringing joy to seniors in aged care homes and programs across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Since 2020, our volunteers have mailed over one million cheerful, one-of-a-kind handwritten letters in dozens of languages!

This is not a pen pal or greeting card program. Your words are what matter most!

Visit lettersagainstisolation.com and choose your option from the top of the page:

Check out our FAQ for details on mailing, group participation, service hours, and more.

Want to see what our volunteers write? Here are a few examples:

The Women's Community is looking for new pillows, full sheet sets, and towel sets and washcloths. 

Donations can be dropped off Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 8 am and 4 pm at 3200 Hilltop Ave in Wausau.

Please contact Allie at allie@womenscommunity.org or 715-842-5663 if you have a donation to make. 

Our pantry is utilized by our residents as well as clients who live off-site and are in need of some items. Our greatest current needs are listed below. 

Current needs that are new:

Highlighted bullet points are biggest needs

    Toiletries:

    Non-perishables:

Pasta/Rice Sides

    Perishables:

    Clothing (new or gently used) & Other:

Donations can be dropped off Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 8am and 4pm at 3200 Hilltop Ave in Wausau.

Contact Allie at allie@womenscommunity.org or 715-842-5663 for questions

We are in need of the following items for our shelter:

Donations can be dropped off Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 8 am and 4 pm at 3200 Hilltop Ave in Wausau.

Please contact Allie at allie@womenscommunity.org or 715-842-5663 for more information

At The Good Shepherd Shelter, we are committed to offering a safe, supportive environment for those in need, but we can't do it alone. Right now, we're in need of breakfast essentials to start each day off right, including: Cereal, Milk, Granola Bars, Fruit Cups, Oatmeal, Coffee, Sugar & Creamer, Juice. In addition, we’re seeking backup meals intakes such as: Spaghetti Sauce & Noodles Frozen Casseroles Pre-packaged, Frozen Lasagna, Frozen Enchiladas, Frozen Meat or Veggie Chili, Frozen Pasta Bake (with layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce),Frozen Chicken Alfredo, Frozen Shepherd’s Pie, Frozen Stir-fry Kits (with pre-cooked rice and veggies),Frozen Sloppy Joes (with buns),These frozen meals will help us quickly serve large groups and ensure no one goes hungry. Your generous donations make all the difference in providing warmth and comfort to the families we serve.

We have a beautiful collection of historic clothing that dates back to the late 1800's. Here is how you can help. We could use some supplies for Collections.  

Polyester quilt batting (not wool or cotton, not loose fiberfill) is needed to wrap padded hangers for the clothing collection.  We could also use white or off-white sheets (cotton or cotton/polyester blend) or lengths of white or off-white woven fabric (cotton or cotton/polyester blend) - these we use to make garment bags and hanger covers.

Thank you kindly for your donation. It is greatly appreciated.

The Marathon County Historical Society would appreciate donations of any office supplies specifically copy paper, mailing labels, small removeable stickers, poster board, manilla folders, standard white mail envelopes, scissors, clipboards, pens...anything! We have plenty of binders and colored paper in our inventory.

We appreciate your help. Thank you for your interest and your donation.

The Neighbors' Place  is in need of donations or drives for hygiene and household cleaning products. 

Groups interested in initiating and planning a specific drive for these items are also welcome. 

For further information, please contact Elizabeth at 715-845-1966.

The Aspirus Family House is a beautiful, modern, home-like facility that provides temporary housing for patients traveling for long-term outpatient specialty care, as well as for families coming a long distance to be near their loved one who's hospitalized. The house eases the financial burden associated with housing for our most vulnerable patients and families.

Help our guests by visiting with them in common areas, assisting staff with changing beds, cleaning, basic household duties, etc. to keep the house looking fresh, organized, well-stocked and homelike.

You can also bring in homemade food for guests (you can make at home and deliver).

Monday-Friday, Varied shifts from 8:30am-6:30pm

In-Kind Donations

Are you looking for an opportunity to contribute to inspiring children and their families as they discover hands-on exploration and educational experiences through play?

The Children’s Imaginarium Wish List located on Amazon that is linked here: Support - Children's Imaginarium (childrensimaginarium.org)

 The Children’s Imaginarium is looking for the following donations for STEM Programming:

Reams of white paper – legal and standard (8 ½ x 11)

Colored construction paper in all sizes

Children’s scissors

Glue guns

Glue sticks

Crayons

Colored pencils

Markers

Elmers glue

Scotch tape

Colored duct tape

Sharpies (all colors)

Rulers

Erasers

Pencils

Pens (all colors)

Construction paper (all colors)

 Please contact us at Hello@childrensimaginarium.org 

Do you enjoy sewing? The Children’s Imaginarium is looking for talented Volunteers to sew museum props and repair damaged props as needed. Patterns and some materials will be provided. 

Please contact us at Hello@childrensimaginarium.org or at 715-907-7801 Ext. 101 with any questions. 

Please visit our website at https://childrensimaginarium.org/support/ to complete the volunteer inquiry form.

The Catholic Charities Day Center accepts donations of large backpacks for homeless guests to carry their belongings in.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northcentral WI can always use COPY PAPER.  Plain white paper preferred, but will appreciate any donation. We could also always use donations of stamps for mailings, along with labels. Thanks for considering donating to help promote the work of BBBS in our area! 

St. Vincent de Paul's new Getting Ahead program is seeking pre-prepared meals for their weekly workshops held on Tuesday evenings. The Getting Ahead program aims to assist individuals experiencing poverty build their resources towards self-sufficiency. Individuals, organizations, churches, and other groups can sponsor a meal for the Getting Ahead program by bringing a pre-prepared cold or hot meal (home-cooked or store/restaurant bought) to the workshop location at 5:00PM on Tuesday nights, or donate a gift card for a restaurant or grocery store. Meal to serve 15 individuals. To learn more, please contact Emily Mueller at 715-298-3028 option 3 or email emueller@svdpwausau.org. 

Looking for a way to support the Boys & Girls Club? We would appreciate your help in donating program supplies to make the Club more fun and keep our Club Members learning. You can also check out our Amazon Wish List for more specific items.

Academic Success/S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Supplies:

Art Supplies:

Games Room Supplies:

Good Character & Citizenship Supplies:

Healthy Lifestyles Supplies:

If you have any questions or would like to coordinate a drop off, please contact Rochelle Alger at (715) 845-2582, ext. 217 or Rochellea@bgclub.com

The Behavioral Health Program at North Central Health Care is looking for new donations of craft, and other, items for use in our programs.

Items needed are: 

Markers

Diamond Art kits

Deluxe watercolor sets & watercolor paper

Small & Medium sized canvases

Painting Paper/Pads

Glitter Glue/Glue sticks

Gel pens - various colors

Mod Podge

Corn Starch

Small items that could be painted - figurines, flowerpots. houses, etc. 

Paint

Sidewalk Chalk

Aromatherapy diffusers and essential oils

Lighthearted and positive adolescent appropriate books

Donations can be dropped off at the Volunteer Office located at 2400 Marshall St, Suite B.  

For questions, please contact the Volunteer office at 715-848-4450 or email at volunteer@norcen.org

We are looking for help and support with receiving items at our drop off location at First Presbyterian Church

first Saturday 10--noon

We are in need of comfort blankets for patients (lap or throw size). We appreciate all types of blankets - knit, crocheted, quilts or tie blankets.   Comfort clothes that are knit or crocheted (approx. 4"x 5") are also appreciated.  You can drop off at Door 4 between 8:00 am - 4:00 pm and leave donations with the volunteer located at that door - no need to call.  Please mark  "Volunteer Services" and include your name and address so we can thank you for your donation. 

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

Hello, Please consider donating to our Head Start Program wish list to help us to have all the materials and supplies needed for us to be successful and productive! Every donation is truly appreciated and will make a difference in our program. We are looking for

I have also added our Amazon wish list link https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/OFDPQNNAZS4Y?ref_=wl_share Marathon county Head Start Wish List 

Marathon county head start is in need of 4T to 6 T Boy's and girl's pants learning to use the toilet is one of the many important developmental milestones we work on with the children we serve. We all know that there can be many accidents while learning to use the toilet and having clean pants and underwear are necessary and we are running very low. 

BINGO...we all know how much fun bingo can be...we are in need of small bingo prizes and non-perishable purchased treats such as soda, chips, fruit snacks and candy.

715-848-4450

Make a difference and ensure that our community is welcoming to newcomers!

Partner with ECDC in co-sponsoring a refugee family in Central Wisconsin.

What is co-sponsorship?

Co-sponsors help newcomers over a longer period of time and offer a more diverse range of community experiences than resettlement agency staff can offer alone.

Co-sponsor teams partner with ECDC’ to do the following:

What types of tasks are co-sponsors asked to take on?

Volunteers on co-sponsorship teams help in all these ways: 

Click here for more information and to sign up: https://www.ecdcwausau.org/howtohelp

You can help our refugee families and individuals by becoming a volunteer! ECDC and our affiliate organizations are seeking volunteers to help with airport pick-ups, apartment set-ups, and other tasks! 

To volunteer in one of our Central Wisconsin locations, click the link below:

https://www.ecdcwausau.org/volunteer

In Marathon County, there are over 7,500 students that are *eligible to receive a new, FREE,
backpack and common school supplies for the upcoming school year through the Workplace
Volunteer Council’s (WVC) signature project – Fill A Backpack Fill A Need (FABFAN). To be
*eligible to take part in FABFAN, students must be entering 4K through 8th grade and qualify
for free or reduced lunch at school.

How can you help?
 Donate supplies. Donations of backpacks and school supplies can be delivered to any of
FABFAN’s Public Collection Sites: AbbyBank, Cloverbelt Credit Union, Health in Motion,
Innovative Health, Peoples State Bank, and Prevail Bank.
 Make a monetary donation. We “s-t-r-e-t-c-h” each dollar that is donated. We shop the
clearance sales at local stores. We buy in bulk to secure

Donation of coffee is needed for our guests to have a hot cup in the morning when they come in to Open Door. 

Are you looking for ways to help your local community? Do you want a new and fun volunteer opportunity? St. Vincent de Paul is in search for volunteers who can assist with getting priced product to the floor.  

Tap into your creative side, helping make items more desirable on how they are displayed. Merchandising is an important part of our thrift store, we receive and price donations on a daily basis.  Getting these items to the sales floor helps get the items in the hands of people that need them quicker! 

Enjoy the experience volunteering by yourself, with a friend or in a group setting.  We can always use assistance getting old merchandise off of our floor and help continue to make room for new merchandise. 

The profits of St. Vincent de Paul go to those in need in our local community. Volunteering here is one of many ways you can help give back.

St. Vincent de Paul values each volunteer and their time.  Volunteering can be done on weekly, daily or even in just one visit lending a hand.  If you have any interest, time or availability, please contact us.  We are very grateful for any and all help!

If you would like to learn more about our organization, please contact us!  Feel free to call, email or just stop into the store!

Jordan May

Kim Kuske           

715-298-3028

jmay@svdpwausau.org

kuske@svdpwausau.org

Help! We have a non-profit google ad grant and we don't know what we are doing! Can you help?

We are seeking a volunteer to help us with our grant and maybe teach us a thing or two along the way. This is a completely remote opportunity and can be done on your own time.

Stable Hands Equine Therapy Center can use a manure spreader. If you can donate, call Jenna at 608-359-5297.

The rakes, standard brooms, shovels, trowels and pruners at Stable Hands have seen better days!! 

If you have any to pass along, please let Jenna know.

Contact her at 608-359-5297 or volunteer@stablehandstherapy.com.

Stable Hands can use windex, spray cleaners, liquid hand soap as well as Kleenex, toilet paper and paper towels.

Contact Jenna to schedule drop off at 608-359-5297 or volunteer@stablehandstherapy.com

High Efficiency Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets for shelter laundry.

The Salvation Army Transitional Living Center is looking for new items.

Contact Colleen at 715-845-4272 or 715-370-9563 or email colleen.hilber@usc.salvationarmy.org

When children come for field trips they often are underdressed.  We take donations of new or gently used rain boots, snow boots, childrens socks, mittens, rain jacket, hats , scarves. Contact Darcie at 261-6309