FOX VALLEY — Communities across the Fox Valley are stepping up to help families recovering after Monday night's devastating storms and tornadoes.
From free meals and emergency childcare to storage space and basic supplies, organizations across the area are offering assistance to those affected.
NBC 26 will continue updating this list as additional resources become available.
Emergency / cooling shelters
An emergency shelter is located at Christ the Rock Community Center, W6254 U.S. 10 #114, Menasha, Wisconsin, in Calumet County. This shelter is open during the day and overnight.
Cooling and charging sites open:
- Winnebago County Fox Cities Campus open until 5 pm (1478 Midway Rd, Menasha, WI 54952)
- Christ the rock Community Church (W6254 UW Highway 10/114, Menasha, WI 54952)
- Elks Lodge and St. Patrick's Church (328 Nicolet Blvd., Menasha, WI 54952 open until 8:00 PM daily)
- Calvary Bible Church (1450 Oakridge Rd., Neenah, WI 54957)
- Elisha D Smith Memorial Library (440 1st St, Menasha, WI 54952)
- YMCA in downtown Neenah from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Neenah Library
- Heckrodt Wetland Reserve (charging available, not a cooling site: 1305 Plank Rd, Menasha, WI 54952)
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley expands services
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley is opening additional services at its Neenah Club, 2065 Marathon Ave., to help families impacted by the storms.
Beginning immediately:
- The Neenah Club will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for all youth ages 6 to 18, free of charge. No membership is required.
- Free evening meals will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, July 31, for anyone in the community who needs food or simply wants a place to gather.
- Drinking water and personal care items, including shampoo and toothpaste, will also be available during evening meal service.
- Free breakfast and lunch will continue to be available for anyone age 18 and younger at both the Appleton and Neenah Clubs.
Breakfast and lunch times include:
Appleton
- Breakfast: 8:30 to 9:20 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Neenah
- Breakfast: 8 to 9 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
FRIDAY UPDATE: The Menasha Club at 600 Racine St. is also open as a public relief hub offering supplies, bottled water, hygiene products, clothing, meals and other support services.
The Menasha location will provide lunch and dinner Saturday, Aug. 1, and daily meals from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday next week. Public shower trailers and restrooms are also available at the site.
Note: Free breakfast and lunch for children 18 and younger will continue weekdays at the Appleton and Neenah club locations.
The Boys & Girls Club of Menasha will remain closed for summer programming until further notice due to storm damage.
Mid-West Mini Storage offering free storage
Families dealing with storm damage can also get help protecting their belongings.
Mid-West Mini Storage in Neenah is offering the first month of storage free to people affected by the Fox Cities tornado.
The company says the goal is to provide a safe place for residents to store belongings while homes are cleaned up and repaired.
Residents with questions can contact Mid-West Mini Storage at 715-679-6411 or by email at info@mwmsproperties.com.
U-Haul offers 30 days free storage
U-Haul is providing 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container usage to residents affected by the tornado that struck the Appleton metro area on Monday, causing widespread damage across Menasha, Neenah and surrounding communities.
As residents begin the difficult process of cleaning up and rebuilding, U-Haul is offering secure storage solutions at no cost for one month to help protect belongings during recovery efforts. The disaster relief program applies to new self-storage rentals and is available at participating locations, based on availability.
Residents in need of assistance can visit or call any of the six participating U-Haul storage facilities to arrange 30 days of free storage.
Stop by any participating facility or call the nearest location to arrange 30 days of free storage.
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Appleton
551 Marcella Street, Kimberly, WI 54136
(920) 423-0210
453 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 486-5018
2927 Shady Lane, Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 486-5144
U-Haul Storage of Neenah South
6248 Hidden Farm Lane, Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 486-5075
U-Haul Moving & Storage at UW of Oshkosh
243 Ohio Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902
(920) 233-1244
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Oshkosh West
900 N. Koeller Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902
(920) 232-3713
Waverly Beach providing free boxed lunches
Waverly Beach is serving free boxed lunches to anyone impacted by the storms.
Meals will be available:
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (July 28-30)
- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- While supplies last
People picking up meals should enter through the banquet hall side entrance.
Planet Fitness in Appleton, Neenah provides shelter
Two Planet Fitness locations — Appleton East at W3165 Van Roy Road, Suite 7, and Neenah at 697 S. Green Bay Road — are opening their doors to residents free of charge through Aug. 2.
Community members can use the facilities for showers, electrical outlets, WiFi, workouts, massage chairs and loungers. Company representatives said hours vary by location.
Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau offers lodging
Lodging options are available for residents affected by the storm. Although some are sold out, displaced residents in communities surrounding the Fox Cities are eligible for discounted rates at participating area hotels. Click here for more information.
Assistance for pets
The Fox Valley Humane Society has food, litter, blankets, dog beds and bowls available for displaced neighbors. The organization says dogs can be temporarily boarded on-site, and they are working to secure fosters for cats. For more information on animal housing assistance, call the humane society at 920-733-1717.
Found pets from their service area can be brought to the shelter. If you lost a pet, also call the organization at 920-733-1717 with a description of your pet, or watch their stray pet page.
Hot meals at the high school
Mercy Chefs, a national nonprofit, is serving free hot meals for anyone affected by the storm beginning Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Menasha High School (420 7th Street).
After the first service Thursday evening, lunch (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) and dinner (4 p.m. - 6 p.m.) will be served daily.
Supply pick-up
Residents affected by the tornado can now pick up supplies at three locations: the Winnebago County Fox Cities campus, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve and the Elks Lodge.
FRIDAY UPDATE: Calvary Bible Church in Neenah has opened for supply pick-up after announcing it has reached capacity for additional donations.
Residents can pick up supplies Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The church will be closed Sunday for services.
Lowe's bucket distribution
Lowe's will be giving away free recovery items while supplies last starting Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. at the Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha (440 First Street).
Company representatives say associates will distribute more than 575 buckets filled with supplies, such as sponges, flashlights, bottled water, trash bags, googles and hand sanitizer.
Mason Street Church of Christ supply distribution
Mason Street Church of Christ in Appleton will distribute emergency supplies beginning Friday, July 31, including food boxes, bottled water, personal items, cleaning supplies, rakes, shovels, tarps and trash bags.
Supplies will be available at the church, 2600 N. Mason St., from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
The distribution will continue until supplies run out, church representatives said.
Know of additional resources?
If your business, nonprofit or organization is offering assistance to people affected by the storms, let us know.
NBC 26 is continuing to update this story with available community resources.
