Adopt A Soldier program changes focus

By Star-News staff

Adopt A Soldier-Door County is putting previous donations back into the community and focusing on other causes for veterans , including providing a lift chair for a local veteran. Adopt A Soldier photo

KEWAUNNE COUNTY – Since it was founded in 2008, Adopt A Soldier-Door County’s focus has been to support Door County and Kewaunee County serving troops, with thousands of “care packages” send to local troops.

“In the past few years, however, troops and their families have slowly stopped responding to our requests for lists of needed items; we no longer receive any requests despite emails urging them to do so,” program leaders stated.

Due to that fact, the program will no longer accept non-cash, in-kind donations of items at local banks for delivery to troops.

Instead, Adopt A Soldier-Door County is putting previous donations back into the community and focusing on other causes for veterans and the area.

“We’ve always given back to the community. All of our excess care package donations? They went back to the community. When we get donations of clothing from 4imprint that aren’t suitable for troops? Back to the community. Donations also were given back to the community earlier this year during the pandemic, so we could help those who didn’t have food or a job. We have also supported the Boys & Girls Club of Door County as well as the Door County Fire Chiefs’ meals co-op project,” they stated.

“We’ve served the community by spearheading a project to provide three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and two first aid kits to the sheriff’s department reserve deputies who serve the public in so many ways.

“And we provided short-term no-interest loans several summers ago to local Coast Guard troops when the government stopped paying them for a time.

“Meanwhile, thanks to generous donations from and local donors and the Horseshoe Bay Golf Club and Pars For Patriots (organized by Siobohn Hecker), we’ve updated our focus to support localv. With the help of the local Veterans Service Office, we’ve funded a wide range of services including urgent car and home repairs, health and dental medical expenses, utility bills, and more.”

Founding member Nancy Hutchinson began the group in 2008 for a Sevastopol High School student who had joined the Marines, sending him regular “care packages” of wished-for and needed items. From that simple beginning, Adopt A Soldier-Door County was born.

The program continues to serve Door and Kewaunee County veterans.

They can be contacted through the Veterans Service Office at (920) 746-2226.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/AdoptASoldierDoorCounty.