GREEN BAY, Wis. — Give BIG Green Bay is just around the corner. The event runs from Feb. 21 to Feb. 22 this year.
Give BIG Green Bay has generated more than $10.4 million for 124 nonprofits over the last six years. The 24-hour event is held online and “is designed to provide a simple way for our community to contribute to local charities. Give BIG Green Bay makes it easy to learn more about the work of participating nonprofits and donate, at any level, to support their work,” according to the event’s website.
On Thursday, Dennis Buehler, the president of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, and Mark Murphy, president of the Green Bay Packers, teamed up to announce the names of 50 nonprofit organizations selected to participate this year. Give BIG Green Bay said 168 nonprofits applied.
This year marks the 7th annual Give BIG Green Bay event. Starting at noon on Feb. 21, donors can participate online, here.
One of the 50 nonprofits selected was Foster the Village.
For the past five years, Foster the Village’s executive director, Cheri Salmon, has been helping kids in foster care.
She said her organization provides those often forgotten-about essentials, free-of-charge, to kids in need.
“We provide clothing and all basic care items to kids that are working with child protective services and have been removed from their homes, whether they’re in a foster home or in a kinship home, wherever they are and they are located in Brown County,” Salmon said.
Salmon said Foster the Village is a soft-landing spot for kids as they transition into the care of foster families.
“They’re able to come here and get items that help them fit in with their peers. Our goal is really to help build the self-esteem of the kids during a traumatic time in their life,” Salmon said.
Foster the Village opened its doors five years ago and since that time it has served over 5,400 children.
Salmon said any money donated through the Give BIG Green Bay event will allow the nonprofit to help the growing number of kids in foster care.
“Last year, we served 1,100 children, and this year, we’ve served over 1,600 children. So, we just have seen that impact and that increase with this past year,” Salmon said.
Julie Georgia has volunteered with Foster the Village for four years.
She said she’s seen firsthand kids’ heart-breaking stories and said she is thankful she can help offer some support.
“A young boy came in who had been living in a tent and needed shoes and jackets and hats, coats, mittens, pants. He needed everything. And it just touched my heart that we could help him,” Georgia said.
Making the best of a less-than-ideal situation is a goal of Foster the Village. Salmon said the work she and volunteers do is more than a job; it’s truly a passion.
“When I get to meet with the kids and help them pick out something that’s special to them, and find the style that’s just right for them, whether it’s that Hello Kitty or maybe it’s a black-hooded sweatshirt, whatever it is. It’s just so heartwarming to watch the kids being able to pick out things that are near and dear to them,” Salmon smiled.