MONROE - The Monroe Woman's Club Christmas Stocking Fund depends on the generosity of many people to provide gifts of warm coats, toys, food boxes and other goodies to those in need in the Monroe School District.
And included in those many donors is a small army of loyal supporters representing local businesses and community groups that regularly donate their time to help the Christmas Stocking Fund.
Help comes from across the community, said Sue Barrett, publicity chairman for the Christmas Stocking Fund. Several local businesses sponsor toy drives to collect toys that will end up in the hands of a child in need on Christmas morning. Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School students, as well as local Scouts, also have a tradition of helping pack and deliver food boxes.
While the help comes from a variety of places, the desire to help those in need is a constant among giving to Christmas Stocking.
Bub Zwygart, Century 21 Zwygart Realty
For Bub Zwygart, owner of Century 21 Zwygart Realty in Monroe, helping out the Christmas Stocking Fund is a long-standing tradition.
His mother, Belva, was involved for many years and got her children involved, he said. Later on, his office took over the Design-A-Doll program, which raised money for the Stocking Fund through a silent auction.
In recent years, Zwygart Realty staff contributes money for the cause, with the office kicking in a matching donation. Staff members also help deliver food boxes to those in need.
The Stocking Fund is an important community service. "There's no doubt about the demand and need," he said.
It's also a huge undertaking for Christmas Stocking volunteers involved, he said. They put in a tremendous amount of time matching gifts and food boxes to families in need to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas.
"It's a great cause. If you can make that day a little more special, it's certainly worthwhile," he said.
Gloria Scherer, Scherer Moving
Gloria and Louis Scherer have been helping the effort by donating tables to pack boxes filled with Christmas dinner fixings for a number of years - ever since they volunteered to help with food boxes and realized volunteers had to work on the floor.
Gloria said Louis takes 8-foot and 6-foot tables, 39 in all, down to Dearth's in the morning so they are ready for volunteer packers. The next day, after food boxes are all packed and ready for delivery, he returns to haul the tables away.
In their business, the Scherers see people in need, Gloria said. "Why not help them? To help someone out just makes you feel good."
Barb Siegenthaler, Grande Cheese
Helping the Christmas Stocking Fund has become a holiday tradition for Grande Cheese's Juda facility since the plant opened in 2001. Every year, the cheese factory sponsors a toy drive and donates money from collecting aluminum cans, said Barb Siegenthaler.
It's all part of helping fulfill the company's mission of serving a purpose greater than themselves, she explained. The company also donates to Relay for Life and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"It's our way of giving back to community," she said.
Pat Murphy, Monroe High School Boys Basketball team coach
The MHS boys basketball team has been helping pack food boxes for about three years now, coach Pat Murphy said. Generally, varsity players, managers and Murphy's own children get together and head to Dearth's to help get the boxes ready.
The players are more than willing to help out and it proves to be a good team bonding experience, Murphy said.
It also helps the team think about something other than athletics, he said. "The more we as coaches and teachers present the opportunity to help those less fortunate, the better. It's a win-win situation."
Kaye Rufi, Union Presbyterian Church
This year, the Christmas Stocking Fund will be the beneficiary of the sale of tasty tidings baked up by Union Presbyterian congregants.
About three years ago, the church began offering a cookie walk. The public is invited to the sale, planned from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 13. It will feature homemade cookies, candy, breads, lefse as well as holiday decorations. The church's new cookbook also will be for sale.
Each year, the cookie walk benefits a different community organization. This year, the cookie walk will benefit the Christmas Stocking and the Green County Food Pantry.
Like the food pantry, Christmas Stocking lends a hand to those in need during the holiday season.
"It takes care of a lot of people," Rufi said.
Carol Stamm, City of Monroe
It's been a long-standing tradition for department heads for the City of Monroe to get together and help the Christmas Stocking Fund deliver food baskets, said City Clerk Carol Stamm. Stamm joined the city in 1998, and she said the city has been volunteering to deliver baskets since well before then.
In recent years, the city also has organized a toy drive. City employees, which include seasonal and part-time workers in addition to about 100 full-time workers, donate toys for the Christmas Stocking Fund.
"We just like to help out the community and help those in need," Stamm said.
And included in those many donors is a small army of loyal supporters representing local businesses and community groups that regularly donate their time to help the Christmas Stocking Fund.
Help comes from across the community, said Sue Barrett, publicity chairman for the Christmas Stocking Fund. Several local businesses sponsor toy drives to collect toys that will end up in the hands of a child in need on Christmas morning. Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School students, as well as local Scouts, also have a tradition of helping pack and deliver food boxes.
While the help comes from a variety of places, the desire to help those in need is a constant among giving to Christmas Stocking.
Bub Zwygart, Century 21 Zwygart Realty
For Bub Zwygart, owner of Century 21 Zwygart Realty in Monroe, helping out the Christmas Stocking Fund is a long-standing tradition.
His mother, Belva, was involved for many years and got her children involved, he said. Later on, his office took over the Design-A-Doll program, which raised money for the Stocking Fund through a silent auction.
In recent years, Zwygart Realty staff contributes money for the cause, with the office kicking in a matching donation. Staff members also help deliver food boxes to those in need.
The Stocking Fund is an important community service. "There's no doubt about the demand and need," he said.
It's also a huge undertaking for Christmas Stocking volunteers involved, he said. They put in a tremendous amount of time matching gifts and food boxes to families in need to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas.
"It's a great cause. If you can make that day a little more special, it's certainly worthwhile," he said.
Gloria Scherer, Scherer Moving
Gloria and Louis Scherer have been helping the effort by donating tables to pack boxes filled with Christmas dinner fixings for a number of years - ever since they volunteered to help with food boxes and realized volunteers had to work on the floor.
Gloria said Louis takes 8-foot and 6-foot tables, 39 in all, down to Dearth's in the morning so they are ready for volunteer packers. The next day, after food boxes are all packed and ready for delivery, he returns to haul the tables away.
In their business, the Scherers see people in need, Gloria said. "Why not help them? To help someone out just makes you feel good."
Barb Siegenthaler, Grande Cheese
Helping the Christmas Stocking Fund has become a holiday tradition for Grande Cheese's Juda facility since the plant opened in 2001. Every year, the cheese factory sponsors a toy drive and donates money from collecting aluminum cans, said Barb Siegenthaler.
It's all part of helping fulfill the company's mission of serving a purpose greater than themselves, she explained. The company also donates to Relay for Life and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"It's our way of giving back to community," she said.
Pat Murphy, Monroe High School Boys Basketball team coach
The MHS boys basketball team has been helping pack food boxes for about three years now, coach Pat Murphy said. Generally, varsity players, managers and Murphy's own children get together and head to Dearth's to help get the boxes ready.
The players are more than willing to help out and it proves to be a good team bonding experience, Murphy said.
It also helps the team think about something other than athletics, he said. "The more we as coaches and teachers present the opportunity to help those less fortunate, the better. It's a win-win situation."
Kaye Rufi, Union Presbyterian Church
This year, the Christmas Stocking Fund will be the beneficiary of the sale of tasty tidings baked up by Union Presbyterian congregants.
About three years ago, the church began offering a cookie walk. The public is invited to the sale, planned from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 13. It will feature homemade cookies, candy, breads, lefse as well as holiday decorations. The church's new cookbook also will be for sale.
Each year, the cookie walk benefits a different community organization. This year, the cookie walk will benefit the Christmas Stocking and the Green County Food Pantry.
Like the food pantry, Christmas Stocking lends a hand to those in need during the holiday season.
"It takes care of a lot of people," Rufi said.
Carol Stamm, City of Monroe
It's been a long-standing tradition for department heads for the City of Monroe to get together and help the Christmas Stocking Fund deliver food baskets, said City Clerk Carol Stamm. Stamm joined the city in 1998, and she said the city has been volunteering to deliver baskets since well before then.
In recent years, the city also has organized a toy drive. City employees, which include seasonal and part-time workers in addition to about 100 full-time workers, donate toys for the Christmas Stocking Fund.
"We just like to help out the community and help those in need," Stamm said.