The holiday season can bring joy, but can also be a difficult time of year for folks going through challenging times. In Madison, several volunteers and organizations are ready and willing to help those who might need a little assistance this holiday season.

For those who celebrate Christmas, having a tree is a big part of the holiday, but for those with limited means, the choice may be between purchasing a tree or the gifts to go beneath it. Back in 2014, then-high school senior Shania Krause decided she wanted to find a way to help.

“I overheard different rumblings from different people about needs around the holidays, and I know they do things like Toys for Tots and the holiday food baskets, but I overheard one woman talking about trying to find a way to buy a tree,” she said. “I know how expensive they are and that it can be an unnecessary burden around the holidays for some people and so I talked to [Assistant Director Madison Social Services] Wendy [Larson] and tried to come of with something just so people have one less thing to worry about around the holidays.”

For the first few years, Krause held bake sales to raise money to buy about 40 trees that could be given at no cost to residents in need. Larson helped by finding those residents who could benefit from a free tree.

“It’s mainly through me,” Larson said. “So it might be a client that I am seeing to help with energy assistance or something like that where they financially qualify. I also put up a sign in the food pantry and we just tried to get the word out that this is available.”

For the first three years of the program, Krause handled all of the fundraising and with the help of others picked up the trees. With Krause now in college, this year Neighbor to Neighbor stepped up to cover the cost of the program and acquire the trees.

About 30 trees were purchased this year at a total cost of about $700. Neighbor to Neighbor member Alise Ferency said other groups in town also stepped up to help support the tree program this year.

“The Exchange Club has the trees on the green anyway, so we asked them if they would buy the trees for us at wholesale pricing and they have been very helpful in organizing in, delivering, and setting up,” she said. “It has been a real group effort.”

Winter Services Available to Madison Residents

The trees were all distributed in early December, but the tree program is just one of many services available to Madison residents not just for the holidays, but the whole winter season.

Programs include things like the Community Renewal Team (CRT) Energy Assistance Program that helps residents subsidize their winter heating expense, the Warm the Children program put on by the Madison Rotary Club that provides all types of winter clothing for children, the Holiday Basket Program put on by Madison Community Services that pulls together the makings for a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinner, and plenty of organizations around town do toy drives throughout the season.

“If you know of someone who might benefit from any of these [programs], please let them know I would be happy to discuss these programs with them,” said Larson.

For more information or to inquire about any program, contact Wendy Larson at 203-245-5655.