Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Notes
March 1, 2026
We don't speak for everyone, but many of us at the street ministry are anxious for the warmer weather to arrive for both ourselves AND the people we serve. The last evening that we were out was in the mid-30°s and the people we served seemed to be in better spirits with the more manageable temperature. We still had requests for cold winter gear, but the requests weren't asked for with the same level of urgency as when it's much colder.
You may wonder what we provide and how much we actually distribute. We've started to keep better track of this information, and in January, we gave out 126 items. In February, we provided 183 items. In addition to the clothing, gloves, underwear, etc., we provide food and beverages as well as blankets, sleeping bags, and bus passes. The bus passes were in high demand last week as we were told that other locations that typically provide monthly passes were out or not providing them. The bus passes we provide are 3 one-way tickets per pack that we purchase at full cost. We are incredibly grateful for you and your support in being able to do what we do.
At the end of one of our evenings of service, a woman paused after taking a bag containing food and beverages. She said that she needed to let us know that she appreciated us being out and for helping her that night and in the past. She continued and said that she never imagined that she'd be in her current situation and homeless. She shared that she had an education, a master's degree, and that she once had a lucrative career. She thanked us again and walked away as she noticed that we had been in the process of packing up. I look forward to talking to her again and learning more about her history and what resources she has and needs. Hearing her brief story was a reminder that each person we encounter has a unique past -- and present. Over the years, we've talked with and served people from various professions: nurses, a retired university professor, an accountant, an attorney... There is no way to know a person's past simply by looking at them.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Please keep the people we serve and the street ministry in your thoughts. Be safe and well.
CVSM Staff
Chippewa Valley Street Journal January 25, 2026
The focus of our service lately has been the weather. If you live in the Eau Claire area, you're aware of the bitterly cold weather we've had over the last week or so. For those out of the area, we experienced temperatures in the -20° range with real feel temperatures below -40°s. It wasn't just cold, it was dangerously cold.
01-22-2026
On our visit to the street on 01-22-2026, we watched the wind blow snow off buildings and the ground in wispy currents. The sky was clear with a crescent moon up high. We didn't serve a great number of people, but those we saw were grateful for the items they received, whether it was food, gloves, boots, or a combination of things. Most of our guests came with face masks on or their hoods pulled tight — there were several people that were so covered up that we couldn't identify them. As they departed to go and wait in line for the shelter to open, most wished us well and offered gratitude. One person expressed a desire to try to rough it outdoors as he does not like staying at the shelter. We strongly recommended him to seek safety in the shelter for the night for safety reasons: he could have been injured or worse if he had attempted to stay out all night.The morning after we served was colder than the evening when we were out. We are grateful that our guests have a place to go during the day and to be safe. There are people who choose to be elsewhere, and we try to provide items to keep them as safe as possible. The threats of hypothermia and frostbite are very real at these temperatures. We hope that everyone is safe.
01-23-2026
We are well-stocked with hand-warmers and provide 2-3 pairs at a time per guest. We have been able to meet other requests for gloves, hats, thick socks, and so on. None of this is possible without your generosity. We'll have an updated needs list in the near future. For now, we are in need of coats, mostly in the size extra-large, and sweatpants that are large and extra-large.
Thank you for your support and blessings to all! Please keep our unhoused brothers and sisters in your hearts.
CVSM - Staff