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Here is our Hope Village January 2026 Newsletter. We hope you enjoy it!

Happy New Year!

Starting the new year full of gratitude for the blessings of the past year and looking forward with prayerful expectation for all that God has in store. Here’s to a year full of hope that shines, community that thrives, and joy that is abundant.

Thanks to everyone who crashed our Christmas party!

Thanks to everyone who crashed our Christmas party! It was an absolute blast hanging out with our amazing supporters and volunteers. Tom Webb and Brian Westrate, you two are a real comedy duo, kudos for playing hooky and ditching Congressman Derrick Van Orden to give us the scoop on some jaw-dropping programs to keep an eye on.

BIG MILESTONE ALERT!

On 12/30/2025 we celebrated 10 YEARS of Hope Village! Ten years of community. Ten years of compassion. Ten years of showing up for our neighbors when it mattered most. We are beyond grateful for the incredible volunteers, financial supporters, and prayer partners who have walked alongside us on this journey. You are the heartbeat of Hope Village, and this milestone belongs to you. Thank you for believing in the mission and helping keep this community strong!

2026 Hope Village Quarter Auction is Sold Out

Raffle baskets are needed!

Quarter Auction Sponsors Needed

Whoa, it's Quarter Auction planning time. The team is excited to host this fun event in 2026!
If you want to be a sponsor we'd love to partner with you.

Hope Village Quarter Auction - Unique Item - Handcrafted Right Here in Chippewa Falls

Auction Item: Set of Three Fishhead Custom Ice Rods.

These unique rods are handcrafted and hand painted and signed as a set of three.

Split grip 36” rod with great neon tip top sensitivity and fast spine.

These rods are built for panfish, crappie, perch and walleye bite.

Great rods for performance and/or to display.

No two rods are painted the same.

These were created specifically for the Hope Village Quarter Auction.

A Generous Young Man!

This crazy generous young man stashed away some of his allowance all year, just so he could donate two hundred bucks to help those experiencing homelessness. Bryce Schindler, you're an amazing young man, an inspiration to everyone. Thanks for being a Difference Maker!

Hope Village’s Indianhead Project Update

Indianhead Motel Project Update: We’re in the Home Stretch

We’re in the final stretch! All remaining paperwork required for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is now in its last stages. It’s hard to believe this process started more than a year and a half ago—but here we are.

If you drive by the Indianhead beginning the first week of February, you’ll know right away that things are officially underway. Rocket Construction trucks—along with vehicles from many other local contractors—will be filling the parking lots. In total, 28 subcontractors will be working on the project between now and mid-June.

Yes, we’re still aiming to have construction wrapped up in June, with the ability to begin leasing units for occupancy as early as July 1, 2026. That date has been circled on our calendar for a long time.

Most of the work will take place inside the building. Each unit will receive:

• A new kitchenette
• New lighting
• New wall coverings and flooring

For safety, a sprinkler system will be added to every room. On the exterior, we’ll be doing siding on the courtyard side and portions of the front façade, installing new windows and doors, and adding new heating and air-conditioning units. And to top it all off, the Indianhead will be getting a brand-new metal roof.

One detail that took a little extra time: the grant requires that all components be built in America and bought in America. Tracking down every single compliant component wasn’t quick—but we got there.

And yes… we continue to receive offers for the iconic Indianhead sign—at least monthly. Folks from near and far seem to have their eye on it.

We can’t wait to begin housing our neighbors. If everything stays on track, we’re hopeful the project will be completed in July, and this long-awaited vision will finally become a lived reality.

If you know of someone who might be interested having them use the contact form on our website to connect with us, and we will get an application sent out to them.

Volunteer Opportunities! 

Things have been pretty busy at Hope Village lately. We had to call in a volunteer, Dove Cohoon, to do some grant reporting for us! She's good! If you’ve been thinking of volunteering , don't let age or anything else keep you from joining one of our teams! Click here to volunteer.

Hope Village Way Update

Hope Village Way: What’s Next

Hope Village recently applied for a grant to fund the next phase of our Hope Village Way development. We submitted our application in mid-November and received our first grant review in mid-December. Now we wait—hopefully with some good news (prayers are always welcome) in the next 60–90 days so construction can continue.

If funded, our plan is to add:

• Two additional 6-plex buildings
• Two additional duplexes

These homes will be identical to the units completed in 2025. Our hope is that they will be finished and ready to lease by fall of 2026, adding 16 more units of affordable housing to our community.

We’re also hoping to add a playground in 2026, once construction is complete—waiting until then just makes sense for everyone’s safety.

A Beautiful New Home Waiting for the Right Family
199 Hope Village Way, Apartment 201

Hope Village has one remaining three-bedroom apartment, and it’s a beautiful, brand-new, never-lived-in unit. This home is reserved specifically for a family who has experienced homelessness and holds a housing voucher.

This is a special opportunity:

• Income-based rent, with the family’s share capped at no more than 30% of income
• Safe, stable, high-quality housing in a supportive community
• A fresh start in a home built with dignity and hope in mind

If you know of a family who may qualify, please help us spread the word. This home is ready—and we’re eager to welcome the right family home.

Crock Pot SOS at Hope Village!

You may not know this, but when a household moves on from Hope Village Chippewa Falls into their new home, they get to take small appliances, bedding, and other essentials with them. That also means we go through a LOT of these items… and right now, our Crock Pot supply is running a little low and slow.The one pictured is from Walmart, but we’re happy to accept Crock Pots from anywhere — including the one hiding in the back of your cupboard that hasn’t seen chili since 2014. It doesn’t need to be new, just clean and in good working order. And hey… this might be the perfect excuse to upgrade yourself to a shiny new one.Thanks for helping our residents start their next chapter well-fed and well-equipped!

We want to thank our financial contributors for this past month

A.A.U.W
Agnew, Char
Augustine, Richard & Deanna
Behling, David
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Bergquist, Arlan & Diane
Bjork, Margorie
Blake, Mary
Block, James & Susan
Boeve, Patti
Bortnem, Jane
Bourget, Richard
Bowe, Samantha
Brenner, Katherine
Brovold, Burt & Alice
Burgess, Caleb
Burnett, Greg & Teresa
Cherrier, Joseph & Lynn
Christen, Jim & Pearl
Christopherson, Lisa
Cooke, Mathew
Crossroads Church
Daniel, Jacque
Dean, Ronald & Mary
Dundore, Mark
Engebretson, Kathleen
Fedie, James & Valerie
Flug, Lee & Jane
Frasch, David & Evalyn
Froelich, Bill & Debbie
Goebel, Lawrence & Milli
Gullickson, Bonnie
Haley, Michael & Patricia Jensen
Hogan, Tina
Holden, Stephen & Carol
Ippel, Paul & Beverly
Jacob's Well
Jacobson, Gerald & Mary
Jim Falls Lion's Club
Koca, Teresa
Koplitz, Dawn
Kuehl, Jerome & Mary
Kurtz, William & Ardell
Kyes, Marcia
Lake Street UMC
Lea, Kathleen
Leinenkugel, Jake & Peg
Lenhart, Ned & Jill
Luthanen, Jeffrey
Manigan, Lori
Marquart, John
May, Daniel
McCausland Harberts, Sandra
Meinen, Teresa
Michael Halama
Miller, Craig & Nancy
Murphy, Joanne
Murray, Matthew & Kari
Nagel, Vicki
Nelson, Carla
Newton, Lee & Kit
Norseng, Charles
Olson, Bruce & Heidi
Olson, Mary Lee
Olson, Thomas
Our Saviors Luthern Church
Our Saviourls Lutheran Endowment
Palmer Christian Church
Peloquin, Patricia
Peterson, Ray & Carol
Pregent, Lauree
Premium Waters
Rasmus, Barbara & John
Robert Craig Films
Roseen, Randall
Schaller, David & Lana
Schindler, Bruce & Laura
Schultz, Rev John
Security Financial Bank
Shakal, Robert
Thrivent
Trazel, William & Lynette
Trinity United Methodist Women
Van Ells, David & Vicky
Vanyo, Paul Maureen
Welk, Anne
Yakesh, Rebecca
Yolitz, Lynn & Jean
Zawacki, Kevin & Kathleen
Zion United Methodist Women

We are so grateful to Thrivent!

Thanks to their generous donation of $250, we were able to purchase items for the welcome baskets we give to each new guest at our Hope Village Tiny Home community. These baskets are a small way to show care and provide comfort as our guests settle in, and Thrivent’s support makes this possible.

Your kindness helps us create a warm, welcoming environment for those starting a new chapter. Thank you for partnering with us to bring hope and hospitality to our community!

We express deep appreciation to Angie Reimer

We express deep appreciation to Angie Reimer who stopped by recently to donate a number of Tommy Moose dolls for children in the Hope Village community.

Tommy Moose® is a friendly, playful, cuddly moose doll whose sole purpose is to bring comfort to children in times of stress, uncertainty, or anxiety. He personifies one of the cornerstone tenants of the Loyal Order of Moose: caring for children.

Tommy originated as a Moose community service project in Connecticut and soon spread throughout the US and Canada.

Since 2002, over 100,000 Tommy Moose plush dolls have been donated to shelters, hospitals, and emergency workers, who in turn deliver them to children in need of some comfort when facing some of life’s biggest challenges.

Calling all treasure haulers, lifters, and resale superstars!

Our Hope Village Resale Team could use a few more helping hands, especially in a couple of key areas.

One big need right now is help picking up donated items at the end of estate sales. These items are generously donated to Hope Village by Caring Transitions Estate Sales and then resold to support our work. This usually means loading items into our enclosed trailer—sometimes it involves lifting (occasionally up to about 50 lbs), but there are lots of smaller, lighter items too. Many hands make light work.

Bonus points if you’re comfortable hauling our enclosed trailer with your vehicle—we could really use a few more people who can do that.

We’re also always happy to hear from folks interested in staffing our Resale Store, though that’s not the top priority right now since the store is closed for renovation until June.

If you enjoy variety, don’t mind a little physical activity, and like being part of a team that turns donations into real impact, this might be a great fit for you.

Send us a message director@hopevillagechippewafalls.org if you’d like to help—or if you just want to learn more. We’d love to have you on the team! 

https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t9q1i8

Mentors Needed

Menard’s Rebates

Looking for an easy way to support Hope Village?

Do you have Menards receipts? We collect them and apply for the rebates. Feel free to mail us your receipts, or your unused rebates. We have friends that send in their rebate forms and have the rebates sent directly to us!! We have installed a mail box near our front door to deposit these items into.

Various churches in the area also collect rebates for us too. This was the brain child of Diane Bergquist. Those rebates come in handy when we purchase construction materials but they also come in handy for purchasing cleaning supplies.

Interested in volunteering?

1. Building and Maintenance Team

Responsibilities: Maintaining and repairing our property, tiny houses, and community center.

Tasks: Weekly “To-Do” lists include various jobs, from minor repairs to more substantial projects.

Time Commitment: Flexible, ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours.

2. Cleaning, Stocking, and Inventory Team

Responsibilities: Ensuring cleanliness and restocking of tiny houses for new guests.

Collaboration: Works closely with the Stocking and Inventory teams.

Training: New members receive guidance from experienced volunteers.

3. Community Center Staffing Team

Responsibilities: Opening and overseeing the community center from 6 am to 10 pm.

Perks: You can read, craft, or use our Wi-Fi during your two-hour shifts.

4. Fundraising Team

Responsibilities: Planning fundraising activities and supporting events.

Opportunities: Joining our annual Quarter Auction and partnering with local organizations for fundraising.

5. Grant Writing Team

Responsibilities: Seeking and writing grants for general expenses and affordable housing development.

Requirement: Grant writing experience needed.

6. Guest Support Team

Responsibilities: Providing assistance to guests, including childcare, transportation, and mentoring.

Involvement: Support events, classes, and weekly goal setting.

7. Housing Search Team

Responsibilities: Helping guests find safe and affordable housing.

Activities: Assisting with applications, rental resumes, and maintaining a rental list.

8. Donation Collection and Resale Team

Responsibilities: Collecting donations and selling items online.

Acquisitions: Collect items from estate sales on Monday mornings.

Contribution: Preparing items for sale and donating unsalable items.

9. Promotional and Outreach Team

Responsibilities: Educating the public about Hope Village through website maintenance, newsletters, and storytelling.

Collaborations: Works closely with other teams to promote events.

Meetings: Monthly virtual meetings, with tasks assigned and worked on independently.

10. Resale Store Staffing Team

The Hope Village Resale Store team is seeking volunteers to help us expand our hours of operation. Currently, the store is open one day per week, and with your support, we hope to increase that to three or more days. Volunteers will staff the store during open hours, assist customers with questions about merchandise, and handle purchases. By joining this team, you’ll play a key role in supporting Hope Village while helping community members discover quality, affordable items.

11. Volunteer Organization Team

Responsibilities: Managing and coordinating volunteers, communicating team needs, and conducting background checks.

Additional Roles: Organizing small teams, like the grass mowing team.

Maintenance: Maintains a master list of volunteers.

Click Here to Volunteer!

Join Us On Facebook

If you want to stay in the loop about what is happening at Hope Village and meet some of our amazing volunteers join our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/hopev...