Chippewa Valley Community Raises Over 20,000 Dollars in First Annual Change for Kids Event

On August 14, individuals from across the Chippewa Valley participated in the first annual Change for Kids event. This event raised awareness and funds for Hope Gospel Mission’s Hope Renewal Center for Women and Children. The hope is to have the center completed by winter which will provide a safe, stable shelter offering programs for single women struggling with homelessness and addiction. The center will also offer services to care for single women with children. With the help of local businesses such as Olson’s Ice Cream, who gave away free kid’s cones to children who donated, this goal is on its way. 

Volunteers at three Northwestern Bank locations collected change, bills, and checks from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Heartwarming stories filled our hearts while buckets of change were filled throughout the day. Little ones poured their whole piggy banks into change buckets to help other children in need. People who have been collecting change for decades chose this day to donate it all. Generous checks were written, and even other community members in need decided this cause was important enough to spare some coins. 

The total amount raised for the day was $21,258.49, including a $5,000 match from Northwestern Bank. To all of the amazing sponsors of the event, Northwestern Bank, Olson’s Ice Cream, Down to Earth Garden Center and Fast Signs of Eau Claire, thank you for your continued generosity to our community. And a huge thank you to Hope Gospel Mission for their efforts and passionate drive to keep this project moving forward. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to donate. We are so grateful to everyone in the community for showing their support for this amazing cause.

Sarah Stokes and her husband Chris Herzog, who are both former WEAU television news anchors, started STOKES|HERZOG, an advertising and public relations agency in 2014. The agency assists both local and global clients with all of their corporate business consulting, advertising, public relations, and marketing needs including video production, website management, graphic design, social media management, and overall marketing.