Chippewa Valley Street Ministry notes
September 8, 2025
The weather certainly changed from summer to fall-like temperatures quickly. We went from handing out t-shirts and shorts to sweatpants and hoodies very quickly. We're currently low on larger-sized items (2x and above) in both hoodies and sweatpants. Please review our needs list for these and other items.
People are waiting outside the shelter.
When we were out a couple of weeks ago, a man was talking with us and was very gracious about the conversation and the items he needed. He gently said it was his birthday and asked for nothing more. It made me pause for a moment and think that for many of us, our birthdays are often recognized by others, and we're made to feel a little extra special for the day. For our brothers and sisters on the street, their birthdays are likely not celebrated like the days are in other populations. We don't ask for any identifiable markers and allow people to be as anonymous as they choose to be so we don't know when birthdays come around. We were glad he said something so that we could wish him well on his special day.
Make-shift cover for people unable to stay at the shelter.
School has started, and so have the needs for supplemental food for some families and children. Last Spring, we shared a journal that discussed funding cuts to food services/pantries in the area and how CVSM is helping to provide food to local schools. While the current school year's needs and uses are not available, and the coordinators do not have specific numbers, they expect the numbers to be higher this year. A volunteer who assists with food distribution shared these statistics in February 2025:
"Feed My People requires us to track how many people receive pantry items and how much goes out (by weight). Here are North High's statistics from February. I believe this would be a good snapshot of our monthly average.
-Over 1300 pounds of food were served
-98 total households were served
-244 children were served
-219 adults were served
-7 senior adults were served"
Please check with your local schools or food pantries to see how you can help!
There is much sadness, worry, anger, and hate in our world right now. Please, everyone, be safe, and we hope you find peace in your lives. Do what you can to perpetuate hope and strength to all who need an extra hand.
Please take a look at our needs list below and donate, if able. We are only able to provide our services with your support. Thank you for your help!
Blessings to all.
CVSM Staff
Please review our updated needs list.
We are happy to take gently used items, but we request that all items be
in working order (working zippers, all pieces present, etc.) and clean.
If we do not receive donations of the goods requested, we purchase them from local thrift stores.
your financial donation is greatly appreciated to assist in the cost of needed items.
Thank you for your support.
We are in greatest need of:
Financial donations
Hoodies: XL, 2XL, 3XL
Sweatpants: Men's in sizes L, XL, 2XL
Boxer Briefs -- M, L, XL
Tarps -- 4 x 6 or 6 x 8
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
or,
directly at the PayPal website by searching Chippewa Valley Street Ministry.
The following QR code is also available:
Checks can be sent to: Chippewa Valley Street Ministry, PO Box 51, Eau Claire, WI 54702
For all other donations, our usual drop-off location is:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1120 Cedar Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
**We recommend calling ahead to confirm
the office will be open to accept your donation**
Please contact us to schedule a drop-off if you need a specific time.
Contact us through email, Facebook, our website, or phone.
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
Our Amazon list is available at:
CVSM Phone: 715-204-9413
(text or call - please leave a voicemail!)
Please share our journal and needs list!
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Notes
August 19,2025
Greetings from the Street Ministry! We've been busy serving our brothers and sisters and learning more about their struggles, plans, and occasionally a few joys. We're noticing an increase in the number of people we're serving, and with the increased numbers, we're seeing more women of all ages being homeless. We always have concerns about women's safety and try to determine the safety of the women we meet. Overall, the atmosphere has an increased sense of stress, discontent, anger, and chaos. We've witnessed heated arguments between people over what we may perceive as a minor slight, but with all their other stressors, the trigger becomes of greater importance. Sometimes the arguments are related to relationships, other times they are about property. Typically, we let the situations settle on their own, but we did have volunteers assist to de-escalate one argument for the safety of everyone.
We're aware of a few people from the unhoused community who have passed away over the last few months. The unhoused community cares for one another and supports each other in times of grief. One man who died had his vehicle decorated in his honor, as seen below.
We provide books, paper, and playing cards to our visitors to help them pass the time. Recently, at the table that held boxes of books, I overheard two men having a deep discussion with other volunteers and with each other about the books they'd read and their favorite authors. Does the general public who pass our visitors walking the city streets know that some are avid readers and have significant knowledge about certain topics? Our guess is "probably not." The people we work with are often mislabeled: drunks, violent, unlawful. We're not saying that there aren't people with addictions or people who tend to use physical means to get what they want, but all in all, labeling anyone is an unfair practice, and overall, the people we work with are simply surviving from day to day in as peaceful a manner as possible. We mention this as it is easy to label people who are exposed because they don't have permanent housing. Wisconsin is known for its alcohol consumption. Eau Claire, itself, was ranked 9th in the United States in 2019 (Eau Claire named the 9th drunkest city in the country). Domestic violence is an issue in our area, as well: per an interview in 2023, a high percentage of women in our area will experience domestic abuse, per a WQOW article. Many of these incidents, whether it is drinking, abuse, etc., occur within the housed community and behind closed doors, where the perpetrators have some level of privacy from the labeling.
This woman needed newer shoes and socks.
We are able to provide for most needs because of the generosity of our donors.
We had some help from some young visitors who now have housing.
We enjoy visits from previous guests, young or older.
(Permission was granted for using the photo)
Please take a look at our updated list for our current needs. Donation drop off, as well as how to send monetary donations, is on the list. Thank you for all of your support, prayers, and donations. We cannot do our work without you.
Blessings to all,
CVSM Staff
Please review our updated list for current needs.
We welcome gently used items. Please be sure the items are clean and in good repair.
Our donation information is below; please contact us with questions!
We are currently in need of:
**Men's tennis shoes - sizes 11 through 13**
(significant need!)
Sweatpants - Med, Large, XL
T-shirts - Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Socks - ankle and crew
Sweatshirts (no hoods) L, XL
Hoodies - L, XL, 2XL
Tents (1-2 person)
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
or,
directly at the PayPal website by searching Chippewa Valley Street Ministry.
The following QR code is also available:
Checks can be sent to: Chippewa Valley Street Ministry, PO Box 51, Eau Claire, WI 54702
For all other donations, our usual drop-off location is:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1120 Cedar Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
**We recommend calling ahead to confirm
the office will be open to accept your donation**
Please contact us to schedule a drop-off if you need a specific time.
Contact us through email, Facebook, our website, or phone.
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
Our Amazon list is available at:
CVSM Phone: 715-204-9413
(text or call - please leave a voicemail!)
Please share our journal and needs list!
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Notes
July 21, 2025
Greetings from the Street Ministry! We hope you are well, healthy, and safe. We're living in uncertain times regarding the political climate: funding is being cut, immigrant safety is threatened, and the "have-nots" are being pushed even further away from the "haves." We are seeing and hearing some of this first-hand: the Hispanic population on the street seems to have vanished, and the recent local news that a veteran's housing program is closing is cause for concern: the very place that we would recommend for veterans to connect with is closing its doors. Basic needs are becoming increasingly difficult to secure, especially for those with limited financial resources.
We talk frequently about the people we serve and some of the many reasons that an individual is living without permanent shelter. We also talk with people who have chosen to step away from the more traditional lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Our volunteer, Dean, talked with a gentleman and shared the following:
"This past Thursday night, I approached a gentleman who does not come to us for assistance, but waits by himself until the Sojourner house opens. I offered him a bag of food and water, but he respectfully declined my offer. I introduced myself and shook his hand, and we just engaged in some general discussion. He was pretty quiet to start with, but as he got to know me a little better, he opened up about his life. He said that he was a farmer, just north of here, for many years, and was also an entrepreneur in other businesses. From what I gather, he feels called by the Lord to prophesy and minister to the homeless and others. He seemed very intelligent, and we had a great discussion for about 20 minutes. He said he just turned 80, but he looks more like 65. I have to say I admired his willingness to be homeless to help others. I’m quite sure he had the means to support himself. I plan to have more discussions with him in the future."
Perhaps you'll remember Ivan, another gentleman that we knew and wrote about in 2022 after his passing. You may have seen him around town picking up cans and chatting with passersby. We would stop and visit with him when we could and would always offer food or clothing, to which he often declined. Ivan was "semi-homeless" as he did stay on a person's porch now and then, and he considered that his home. Ivan chose what some people may have called an eccentric lifestyle because he did not want to participate in the capitalist, dog-eat-dog world. He was a Veteran Naval Officer, an attorney, a scholar, and a businessman. As a lawyer, his dream was to finance a strictly pro bono law practice. In his obituary, Ivan summed up his ideology: "I found that when you don’t have to care, in the traditional sense, about worrying whether your social prestige quotient is above everyone else’s via the usual criteria of most stylish clothes, new car, new house, etc., that drives the consumer’s hedonic treadmill, then life becomes far easier and less worrisome about what others think of you, because you’ve got the probable highest level of self confidence among your peers or whoever."
Ivan
(picture taken and used with permission)
While there are others who choose to leave their homes for various reasons, the majority of the people we serve are not living in these conditions by choice. Most want housing and are taking the steps to obtain it. One older woman came to us and asked if we had housing for her. We explained that we did not and asked if she had gotten her name on the local housing lists. She had said that she'd been told that she should expect to wait eighteen months before any housing would become available to her. Unfortunately, this seems to be the normal time frame that we hear. She said that she didn't think she'd survive on the street that long. It's hard to know what to say in those situations other than to encourage the person to keep trying and remind them that we'll be out to support their basic needs and to listen to them.
Some of our amazing volunteers: Tim, Scott, Ken, Steve
One of our visitors stayed and visited for a while. The conversation was initially lively as he talked about the weather, the experiences that he had, and so on. Before he left, he said that he wanted us to know that our presence was important not just to him but to the population as a whole. He said that being able to receive food, drink, and clothing is significant, but the kind words, the reliable presence, and the care and concern that he feels are powerful and give him hope. It was heartwarming to hear his kind words.
Please review our needs list; it has been updated to reflect our current needs. Feel free to contact us with questions or to schedule a time to meet for a donation.
Thank you, as always, for your support. We are in need of financial support at this time, in addition to some clothing needs. Donation information will be on the needs list. Please keep our brothers and sisters, the ministry, and our community in your prayers.
Blessings to all,
CVSM staff
Please review this updated needs list.
We are happy to take gently used items, but we request that all items be
in working order (working zippers, all pieces present, etc.) and clean.
If we do not receive donations of the goods requested, we purchase them from local thrift stores.
Your financial donation is greatly appreciated to assist in the cost of needed items.
Thank you for your support.
We are in greatest need of:
Financial donations
Hoodies: XL and 2XL -- we are nearly out of both sizes
Sweatpants: Men's in sizes L, XL, 2XL
Boxer Briefs -- M, L, XL
Tarps -- 4 x 6 or 6 x 8
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
or,
directly at the PayPal website by searching Chippewa Valley Street Ministry.
The following QR code is also available:
Checks can be sent to: Chippewa Valley Street Ministry, PO Box 51, Eau Claire, WI 54702
For all other donations, our usual drop-off location is:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1120 Cedar Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
**We recommend calling ahead to confirm
the office will be open to accept your donation**
Please contact us to schedule a drop-off if you need a specific time.
Contact us through email, Facebook, our website, or phone.
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
Our Amazon list is available at:
https://a.co/0352e4P or use this QR Code:
CVSM Phone: 715-204-9413
(text or call - please leave a voicemail!)
Please share our journal and needs list!
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal
May 21, 2025
We hope this journal note finds you all well. We continue our work on the street with our unhoused brothers and sisters, with growing concern for the increased number of people we're serving. We have been seeing a steady increase and are now going to start preparing for 70 guests each time we're out. It's a challenge to know how much to bring out, as we never want to leave someone in need of food or hydration; some people tell us that the food we provide is what gets them from one day to the next, especially if they're working and cannot get to other resources.
We've been blessed to have some young visitors from the local family shelter over the last few visits. The pictures are used with the mother's permission. She said the children had clothing needs, and our partner, Shepherd's Closet, filled the needs, and we provided the items at the next visit. The mother reports that they will be moving into housing in the next few weeks, which is very exciting news. At each visit, the children are gracious and interactive. We're happy to be of service to all ages and needs.
The children love the Prime drinks that we distribute!
Lots of smiles and hugs from our young friends.
The people we serve often have to carry everything they own from place to place. To the outsider, it may be curious why someone who has nowhere to store their belongings would attempt to bring so much with them. There is likely a psychological explanation that I suspect relates to trauma and/or the need to have some control in their lives. It is not our place to judge the behavior; we do not know the past traumas or triggers of each person. Our role is to support the current needs of those we serve to help keep them safe from the elements from day to day. We do set limits on how many items a person receives in order to ensure that there is an adequate supply for as many people as possible.
Everything a person owns is strapped onto this bicycle. Somehow, the person manages to balance and ride it.
This person has a cart to wheel her belongings from place to place.
We were happy to talk with a man who independently obtained housing! His presentation has changed drastically: housing has taken several years of stress off his appearance. He smiled throughout the conversation, appeared to be more confident, he stood taller. We believe that he has the skills to be successful, but did encourage him to keep in touch with us for basic needs.
As always, thank you for your ongoing interest and support of the street ministry. We absolutely cannot provide our services without you and need donations, both financial and material. Please check out our needs list for more information.
Blessings to all!
CVSM staff
Please review this updated needs list.
We are happy to take gently used items, but we request that all items be
in working order (working zippers, all pieces present, etc.) and clean.
If we do not receive donations of the goods requested, we purchase them from local thrift stores.
your financial donation is greatly appreciated to assist in the cost of needed items.
Thank you for your support.
We are in greatest need of:
Financial donations
Hoodies: XL and 2XL -- we are nearly out of both sizes
Sweatpants: Men's in sizes L, XL, 2XL
Men's tennis shoes, all sizes
Boxer Briefs -- L, XL
Tarps -- 4 x 6 or 6 x 8
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
or,
directly at the PayPal website by searching Chippewa Valley Street Ministry.
The following QR code is also available:
Checks can be sent to: Chippewa Valley Street Ministry, PO Box 51, Eau Claire, WI 54702
For all other donations, our usual drop-off location is:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1120 Cedar Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
**We recommend calling ahead to confirm
the office will be open to accept your donation**
Please contact us to schedule a drop-off if you need a specific time.
Contact us through email, Facebook, our website, or phone.
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
Phone: 715-204-9413
(text or call - please leave a voicemail!)
Please share our journal
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry
May 11, 2025
We're serving more people than a few months ago, and we expect that number to grow. At least 4 people left the area for employment, and we hope they find some stability and success. Other people are employed locally and are working to try and get into housing. And still others are just trying to survive with whatever resources they have and can find. While many of us are enjoying the warmer, summer-like weather, our brothers and sisters need to be cognizant of water sources and heat-related injuries.
A man resting during an early Spring day.
We met a woman who is pregnant with twins. She is desperately looking for housing or someplace to stay long-term. We've provided some comfortable shoes and clothing for her and listened to her concerns. We saw her a few times while being out, and didn't see her last Thursday, we're hoping that's a good sign.
We continue to watch and ask for updates regarding the local shelter and what their status is as far as needing to decrease services relating to funding. The guests who stay there will face even more challenges if they are displaced each night. We are willing to support our guests however we can, but we are financially unable to support the needs of tents and sleeping bags if those items are confiscated by authorities for ordinance violations such as camping on city property. We are in need of other items and those will be reflected on our needs list. Many of our guests are highly anxious about the possibility of not being able to stay at the shelter at night; some have been victimized and feel more vulnerable outside of the shelter, some don't have the physical ability to be outside night after night due to chronic illnesses, mobility, etc.
A man is trying to get some sleep.
Sleep is one resource that cannot be provided by any organization, but is often the most needed resource.
Not all women celebrate Mother's Day. As I write this on Mother's Day, my thoughts turn to the women who are mothers on the street that we serve: were they able or welcome to contact their mothers or their children? Do the people we serve reach out to their mothers on this day? Is this holiday like so many others, and is "just another day" to survive? We don't often have time to delve into family relationships while we're out, and sometimes, that might be best to avoid triggering any traumas or starting a conversation that can't be finished. The people who provide services become a family to our brothers and sisters, and perhaps, for now, that's enough.
Thank you for your support and interest in the street ministry. Please review our current needs list, and if you are able to assist, please do so. As a reminder, we are a 24/7 all-volunteer service that operates only on the donations we receive. Our donations have decreased, and we're asking for some help.
Blessings to All,
CVSM staff
Please review this updated needs list.
We are happy to take gently used items, but we request that all items be
in working order (working zippers, all pieces present, etc.) and clean.
If we do not receive donations of the goods requested, we purchase them from local thrift stores.
your financial donation is greatly appreciated to assist in the cost of needed items.
Thank you for your support.
We are in greatest need of:
Financial donations
Hoodies: XL and 2XL -- we are nearly out of both sizes
Sweatpants: Men's in sizes L, XL, 2XL
Men's tennis shoes, all sizes
Boxer Briefs -- L, XL
Tarps -- 4 x 6 or 6 x 8
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
or,
directly at the PayPal website by searching Chippewa Valley Street Ministry.
The following QR code is also available:
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry
April 28, 2025
This is an urgent situation that needs our attention
The street ministry has been helping to support a family with 6 children for the last decade in one way or another: food, clothing, school supplies, etc. They have recently had a tragedy and need our help more than ever. The father of six children passed away after an illness related to liver and kidney disease. While some children are now adults, there are still school-aged children living at home. One of the adult children has taken on the role of guiding and supporting the younger children.
Our finances are extremely tight for daily operations, and we are unable to assist the above-mentioned family without your help in their urgent need. We're reaching out to you to obtain funding for the family to support their basic needs such as rent, food and other necessities while they navigate their situation without their father. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Again, this is an urgent situation that needs our attention. The street ministry has had consistent contact with this family throughout the last decade, they need our support now as they walk their journey without their father.
Financial donations can be made via PayPal on our website and Facebook pages or use this code:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org --> click on 'How can I help' --> Donate
-or-
Facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry --> click on the 'Shop Now' button.
Checks can be mailed to:
CVSM
PO Box 51
Eau Claire, WI 54702
Blessings to you all,
CVSM
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry
Notes - April 10, 2025
Greetings from the Street Ministry. The number of people we're serving is on the rise, but curiously, we're not always seeing the same people consistently. We continue to serve young and old, young and elderly, and able-bodied and ability-challenged. One gentleman is in a wheelchair and propels himself backwards — a challenge to his safety but an efficient means of traversing the city.
As noted in our previous journal, the challenges of the recent cuts in governmental aid are noticeable in many programs that we partner with, and this is a cause for concern. Michelle Pride of Feed My People provided the following information relating to the cuts and effects of policy changes. Please take a look. The Street Ministry depends on food from Feed My People to provide food to our brothers and sisters on the street. Without this resource, we (and other programs) will struggle to provide the food portion of our services to people in need. We are living in uncertain times but we will be here to support those in need. We believe that it is our responsibility, collectively ours as a community, to work together to serve all those who are in need.
A young woman came to our table -- she appeared to be in her very early 20s -- who was hesitant to provide any information to us. This was understandable as she had no history with us and no reason to trust us. She did finally share that she is fairly new to being homeless and that she was scared. We discussed safety and some options of where to go during the day and night. We encouraged her to return and visit the next time we were going to be out and she replied that she had no intention of being homeless for very long. She did not want to stay to visit and we hope that she was able to fulfill her plans to get off the street. Women of all ages are at risk of being taken advantage of or hurt and this was a real concern for this woman.
Another woman that we've seen a few times welcomed the chance to sit and rest. She has numerous medical complications ranging from spinal problems to cardiac complications to both of her feet causing pain — all diagnoses that complicate, and are complicated, by being homeless. She talked about qualifying for limited services through a disability program but nothing that she felt would be helpful without housing. We encouraged her to call the local aging and disability office to be reassessed. She admits to being miserable surviving from day to day in her condition.
Tess and Steve assist a mobility-challenged friend.
He had fallen multiple times but declined hands-on assistance.
Our services are provided only because of generous donations from our support system. We are made up of unpaid volunteers that are dedicated to helping people in need. We are the only organization (that we are aware of) with the longevity we have of being in the elements, on the street, and with the people we serve. We are in need of financial donations to continue our work. We are aware that there are multiple organizations frequently asking for your help and donations — we try to focus on the people we serve and not always on the 'how' we serve, but we are now asking for your help. No donation is too small; anything helps and is appreciated. Donations can be made online at our website and Facebook page or mailed. As we are approaching our thirteenth year of service, please help us support some of our community's most vulnerable members.
www.chippewavalleystreetministry.org
www.facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry
PO Box 51
Eau Claire, WI 54702
Our street ministry is based on being a "Ministry of Presence" with the people on the street. While there is considerable concern amongst our brothers and sisters regarding the possible limited services at the shelter and other benefits, we will continue walking with our friends during their journey — through the darkness to the light, through the sorrows to their joys. We will continue to encourage hope where there is little and continue to just be with our friends. We are obligated to protect the fragile, the innocent, and the least of them, our sisters and brothers, to be servants to all that we meet here in the street.
CVSM staff
Something to think about as we enter Easter ....
..By North American standards, Jesus could
be considered neither a successful person,
nor could he be considered morally respectable.
He identified with the prostitutes and drunkards,
the unemployed and the poor, not because he felt
sorry for them, but in order to reveal God's judgment
against social and religious structures that oppress
the weak. Jesus was born like the poor, he lived
with them, and on the cross he died like them.
James H. Cone - Theologian
While we are always accepting donations of gently used or new items that are clean and in good repair.
We are requesting financial donations to assist us in providing care to our brothers and sisters.
We purchase and provide bus passes at regular cost to assist in transportation needs.
Some people do obtain monthly passes, we fill in the gaps.
We purchase items that have not been donated that we need quickly or urgently.
We have operational costs to cover: storeroom rental fees, fuel, etc.
On occasion, we will provide monies for incarcerated individuals to pay for services: medical, canteen, and phone service.
Donations can be made online via PayPal at our website:
Chippewavalleystreetministry.org -----> click on 'How can I help' -----> Donate
Facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry ----> click on the 'Shop Now' button
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry
March 19, 2025
We, like so many organizations and individuals in our community, have a lot on our minds. We are aiming to keep this non-political and share some news that has us concerned about the populations we serve. On the street, we see familiar faces that are tired and frustrated. There is little we can do to alleviate those feelings but we try to decrease some anxiety by supporting day-to-day needs. A hoodie or blanket might not seem like much to most of us but for someone who survives from one day to the next, those items provide more than the basic intent of warmth or protection from the wind: they may feel a sense of compassion, a sense of importance, a sense of being cared for. The act of providing a hoodie includes a time to have a conversation, for a person to share what they've done during the day, what frustrates them or gives them hope — and hope is an invaluable commodity for all of us.
Rather than repeat or rewrite entire articles, we've chosen to paraphrase the issues from our perspective and give you the links that will provide additional information.
Sojourner House: There is a real concern that the shelter will need to reduce its service hours. This information has created a significant level of anxiety for the people who currently shelter there. While the potential closure is not forecasted to occur until May, people are unsure as to what they will do without that service. We have been asked if we will still be available and we are assuring our visitors that we will continue to be in service. We are discussing and anticipating what additional needs we will have to support people should a closure occur. For more information regarding this concern, please click HERE.
Elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program: The street ministry regularly partners with Shepherd's Closet, a ministry of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, to provide leftover food to local schools in their pantries and food assistance programs for families. Representatives from Shepherd's Closet mirror the concerns of our local food bank, Feed My People, and share that the elimination of the LFPA program will harm many, many children and families due to the decreased access to supplemental nutritious foods. For more information regarding this situation, please see Feed My People press release. From a Shepherd's Closet volunteer:
"A majority of the food and supplies comes from Feed My People Food Bank. The schools place weekly orders with them and have a certain monthly budget that they use to fill in any gaps we have in the Pantry. The rest comes from donations from students, families, and staff of North and Memorial High School's. We have been taking leftover food from Ruby's Pantry and donations from the Street Ministry for the last 3 years. In March we took 2 car loads to both Memorial and North this week and one carload to South Middle school. These donations help extend the school's budget. Donations of any kind are appreciated."
North High School Information (as noted from Shepherd Closet representative)
"Feed My People requires us to track how many people receive pantry items, and how much goes out (by weight). Here are North's statistics from February. I believe this would be a good snapshot of our monthly average.
-Over 1300 pounds of food were served
-98 total households were served
-244 children were served
-219 adults were served
-7 senior adults were served"
Eau Claire Areas School District/Family Services:
Per Dani Graham, ECASD Coordinator, 280 students have been identified who have experienced homelessness within this school year - so far. Most significant this year has been that seven of the identified families stay in their vehicles, including a family of seven; this is the most the school district has ever identified in one school year and the school year is not over yet.
The district's Free & Reduced numbers are around 42% of the student population, and most of those students' family's incomes are low enough to qualify for free meals.
There are food pantries at all ECASD middle and high schools and they all partner with Feed My People to get food items for students and families but struggle to get any snack items and ready-to-eat food items for students who need those. To help with this issue, bins are located at each school to help collect those items:
The community is welcome and encouraged to drop off snacks and ready-to-eat items.
With the warmer weather, we are seeing more visitors and we are grateful for the opportunity to assist them in their needs. We are also grateful to you, our support system, for providing the means to be of service. We have begun transitioning from winter to summer gear — only to retreat back to some winter items as the weather can't seem to commit to warmer, safer weather quite yet.
People gather in a park.
The warmer weather is a welcome change.
We recently encountered a visitor who has us concerned about his safety and vulnerability. We did take some action behind the scenes but are unsure that he won't fall through the cracks of the systems that are in place. He appeared unsteady and erratic but none of us believed that he was under the influence of substances. Many of his peers recognized his vulnerability and were committed to keeping him safe. We'll try to keep track of him and contact other agencies if possible.
Steve is assisting a visitor who arrived without shoes and needed some hygiene support.
A woman who typically arrives just as we are leaving has shared some of her history. Because of concerns about domestic violence in her past, we assisted her by providing information about the domestic abuse shelter. One volunteer walked to the shelter with the woman to be screened for services.
While there is significant concern about how decisions at the federal level will affect the people we serve as well as the community as a whole, we remain steadfast in our mission to help those in need, particularly the unhoused. We appreciate your support and encourage you to continue reading our journals for news and ways to help support our brothers and sisters who are struggling. Please be alert to changes in services and policies that affect us individually and as a community.
Blessings to all,
CVSM staff
We've updated our needs list, please take a look!
We accept both new and gently used items that are clean and in good repair.
Thank you for your donations to CVSM!
Financial donations - we purchase city bus passes regularly to provide to the people we serve for transportation to work, appointments, and general use. These are costly to purchase in the quantity that we need. Tents are requested more often in warmer weather and if not donated, we purchase those. We also purchase items that are not donated and are limited in our stock.
Hoodies - these are needed year-round. We need hoodies in sizes L, XL, XXL, and larger
Sleeping bags & Blankets - if donating a used sleeping bag, please have functional zippers
Men's underwear - Always needed. New is preferred, boxers and/or boxer briefs. All sizes.
Please note the following information for donations:
Checks and/or gift cards can be mailed to:
CVSM
PO Box 51
Eau Claire, WI 54702
Electronic donations can be made at our Facebook page and our website:
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
For all other donations, our usual drop-off location is:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1120 Cedar Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
**We recommend calling ahead to confirm
the office will be open to accept your donation**
Please contact us to schedule a drop-off if you need a specific time.
Contact us through email, Facebook, our website, or phone.
facebook.com/chippewavalleystreetministry
chippewavalleystreetministry.org
Phone: 715-204-9413
(text or call - please leave a voicemail!)
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal
February 19, 2025
The daylight is sticking around longer but the cold temperatures didn't let up over the last few weeks. Several days were wickedly cold: subzero temps all day with wind gusts that made the temperatures even more dangerous. We were out on our usual days knowing that the people we serve often need us more during the cold days and nights more than any other time: their safety is of the utmost importance to us and we provide what we can to increase the safety of our friends. We were grateful for the amount of blankets, hoodies, sweatpants, hand warmers, and boots that we were able to provide. We gave out gloves, hats, coats, and many sets of thermal underwear, as well. It is an unfortunate fact that there are still people that are living in the elements.
Almost a full moon on a cold, clear afternoon.
The cold brings significant risk to the unhoused community.
One young woman shared that she and a few other people stay in a vehicle that is not running but it keeps the wind out. It is unclear to us why she and her friends do not stay at the shelter. While we gently suggest alternatives, it is ultimately their decision and we can only hope for their safety. She asked for a blanket, a hoodie, and sweatpants to layer over what she was wearing.
The sunshine and clear skies are deceiving: it was COLD and windy when we arrived to serve our brothers and sisters.
The risk of frostbite or hypothermia is a real threat at these temperatures, even in short periods.
We've been making regular visits to the local jail to visit with our brothers and sisters who are being detained. Some people don't have anyone to talk to or support them when they're on the street other than our volunteers. If our friends are detained, they lose that contact, as well, so we make efforts to visit when we can. If a jail is privatized, as is this county's, it can be costly to receive certain services for a person who has low-to-no income going in to serve their time. Medical care has a cost, phone service and email service have fees attached. There is an ordering service (Canteen) for other items such as underclothing, food not provided by the kitchen and other items, but this can be expensive. We have provided funding for some of these necessities but this is a practice that is costly to CVSM over time. Few people have had family members willing or able to assist with their needs.
Karen and Ella trying to protect their faces from the cold air.
We were unable to identify many of the people we served as their faces were covered from the frigid temps.
We hope that you haven't been affected but you likely know someone who has been sick recently; it seems there has been a lot of influenza and Covid going around. The people we serve have not been excluded, many have been miserable with coughs and fevers. One woman said she didn't feel well and asked for two blankets in addition to the blanket she was carrying. Once we provided them, she went across the street and laid on the cold sidewalk. We've talked with her since then and she feels better, but it was a stark reminder that the unhoused don't have beds or couches or recliners to rest in while they recover from illnesses, injuries or medical procedures.
Scott is talking with a guest and distributing requested items.
Everyone who visits us expresses heartfelt gratitude for the items, food, and beverages that they receive. While we're out there, we couldn't provide those items without you; the gratitude we hear must be shared with you. From the people we serve and benefit from the many donations you have provided, THANK YOU. You do not realize how many hands you've kept warm with the hand warmers that were provided, or the feet that were not frostbitten because of the thick, warm socks that were distributed. Every item makes a difference. Because of your generosity, we can purchase items that may not have been donated. It is vital to our service and to the well-being of the people we serve to keep the donations coming in.
Our friends and volunteers are looking forward to the forecast and the suggestion of warmer and safer weather. Please keep our community's unhoused and the street ministry in your thoughts. If you can help out and donate, thank you. Our needs list has been updated and attached for your review.
Thank you,
CVSM volunteers
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry notes, 1-22-2025
The cold has been the story over the last two Mondays. We served in sub-zero temperatures and provided coats, gloves, face masks, hand warmers, thermals, sweatpants, and more. While we've been out in the elements with our unhoused friends for 12 years, it still is mind-boggling to think that people stay outdoors when it is as cold as it was. As I write this, it is 16 degrees above zero, a whopping 33 degrees warmer than when we were out on Monday.
Some of our volunteers who served in the cold:
(L to R): Tim, Tess, Karen, Steve
One woman and her boyfriend arrived and requested sweatpants, hoodies, snow pants and thick socks. She shared that earlier in the day, her fingers had been exposed to the cold air and that they were now hurting. She asked if we had hand sanitizer, and we explained that we did not have any with us. She was disappointed and explained that she and her boyfriend burned the gel as a means of creating heat in their makeshift shelter and she was concerned that they were running out. She shared that she's been burned by it previously but felt the risk was worth the practice. They disappeared into the darkness after receiving the requested items. I think we'll all breathe a sigh of relief when we see them again and know that they survived that frigid night.
This temperature was at 6:13 pm and the readings
dropped throughout the night.
Some people are staying outdoors 24/7.
We regularly encounter some visitors who are not prepared to spend the night outdoors. If the temperature, not the windchill, is 15 degrees, the local shelter allows overflow so more people are able to get in for safety. When the temperature is 16 or above, there is a risk for some people to have to remain outdoors or find other options if the capacity at the shelter is met and they are not able to get in. Most nights we are asked by several people to provide blankets and/or sleeping bags just in case they are unable to get into the shelter. Some people prefer to not stand and wait in line only to be turned away, they'd rather venture off and find a different place to shelter. That decision occasionally results in a camping ticket depending on where the person settles for the night. A bigger risk is that of frostbite, a condition we've seen most winters over the years, and hypothermia.
These are pictures from several years ago but show the devastation frostbite can have on people's fingers.
Thank you to everyone for your generosity and prayers for our unhoused friends.
Take care, and Blessings to All.
CVSM staff
Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal - January 6, 2025
2025 has arrived and we wish you all good health and happiness in the New Year. We continue to be busy providing essential services and items to keep our community's unhoused population as safe as possible. The darkness settles over us as we arrive at our usual site but we have noticed that the shadows are coming a little later each day — there is promise of warmth and light as we all go through each day.
We gained followers and more support over the last year -- THANK YOU! We note regularly that we could not provide our services without you, our support network. Before we talk about the current happenings that we're seeing, we want to remind everyone reading this what we do. The street ministry started in 2012 and even though we have grown, our mission remains the same: treat those we serve with unconditional love, dignity, and respect. While we provide clothing and food, our presence and service extend further than that. We are a ministry of presence and often provide care by listening and accepting people for who they are and for the situation they are in. Sometimes by saying less, there is more communication. We are prepared to serve up to 70 people each evening when we go out with food, beverages, clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, and other items that are requested. We are an all-volunteer organization that is faith-based but we do not proselytize. We do not require any identification for services as over many years we've learned that people are often more open and willing to talk if they feel less exposed. We meet our brothers and sisters where they are at — not just physically but also where they are socially and emotionally. We are out in the elements with those we serve whether it be rain, snow, cold, or heat. We don't have the protection of a roof just as many of our brothers and sisters do not have the protection of shelter. We work with our friends on the street, travel to rural areas to provide support, and are available for other circumstances. We have made hundreds of jail/prison visits to provide support while someone is incarcerated to remind them that they matter and have someone in their corner. We've developed an incredible support system that has allowed the street ministry to operate solely on donations for our entire existence.
Pictured are a few of our amazing volunteers: Tim, Steve, Adam and Karen
Last week we encountered a man who arrived at our tables shivering and telling us that he needed "everything." While we gathered clothing and a coat, we listened to his story. He wasn't sure how the process worked to get into the shelter or what to do the following day. We encouraged him to use the resources in the community to be safe, warm and fed.
Another man that we've known for several years arrived with a walking boot on his foot. Once his requests for clothing were filled, we assisted him to the shelter. It was unclear as to what his injury was related to, but we all agreed that it was helpful to not have snow banks or slushy sidewalks for him to contend with.
We continue to hear people talk about staying outdoors at night. This is concerning with the cold air upon us. There are reports of frostbite and damage to skin from the cold. One man complained that he couldn't feel his feet due to the cold and cried in pain. We were able to provide thick, warm socks and boots prior to him walking back into the darkness. We encourage use of the shelter but for one reason or another, some people can't or won't stay there. When it is cold out, our conversations are sometimes short to allow the person we're serving time to move on to hopefully safer and warmer areas.
As we move forward into 2025, please take time to review our journals to learn what is happening out on the street, we share what we see and hear. Our needs list is updated, please help us support our unhoused brothers and sisters. Thank you, blessings to all.
CVSM staff
