How to Help

The Volunteer Reception Center and Donation Drop-off Site is at the old UW Fox campus, 1478 Midway Road, Menasha, reopening today, Thursday July 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Volunteer update: the response has been extraordinary — over 300 volunteers are already serving in the field, and as of last evening they no longer needed additional volunteers on-site for that shift. If you are on the stand-by list and have not had a follow-up email, come anyway — they are still working through the overwhelming number of sign-ups.

Hmong and Spanish interpreters are available on site, along with trained emotional support volunteers.

Where to enter and park

• Volunteers: park in Lot 2 or Lot 3, and use the volunteer entrance on the north side of the main building.
• Individual donations and small vehicles: use the campus main entrance off Midway Road, then follow signs to the Donation Drop/Shop near Lot 1.
• Large trucks and bulk donations: enter via University Avenue — the road along the west side of the campus, marked University Drive on the map — to the Large/Bulk Donation Drop by Lot 2.

If you are volunteering

• Do not go to affected areas unless directed by Emergency Management, Volunteer Fox Cities, or another official response group.
• You must check in, sign a liability waiver, and get a safety briefing before being deployed.
• Wear closed-toe sturdy footwear and clothing suited to the weather, and bring sunscreen and a valid driver's license or photo ID.
• Under 18s may volunteer only with a parent or guardian present, who completes the waiver on their behalf.
• Meals, snacks, drinks, restrooms and portapotties are on site.

Donation needs have changed — due to limited storage, only these items are being accepted starting 8 a.m. today:

• Lanterns/flashlights, lighter fluid, stick lighters, charcoal/firewood
• Bug spray, small fans, Advil/Tylenol
• Small and large tarps
• Kleenex, dish soap, body wipes, laundry soap (small bottles preferred), diapers, lotion
• Pasta and sauce, single-serve cereal, ramen, Boost nutritional drinks
• 9-volt batteries

Please do NOT donate: alcohol, expired food, perishable food, water (there is currently an adequate supply), or clothing. Donation needs may keep changing — check back here or Volunteer Fox Cities' own channels before a special trip.

For clothing, the Community Clothes Closet on Midway Road accepts donations Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–1 p.m., and Gunderson Cleaners accepts them at any Fox Valley location (max 5 bags or containers per donation).

Picking up supplies

Anyone affected by the storm may shop the donation center, and volunteers will help load your vehicle. Boxes and totes are available. Be ready to check in with your name and address.

Giving money instead

If you are able, money is more useful than goods — it lets responders and nonprofits buy what is needed most, where it is needed most. Donate through United Way Fox Cities at unitedwayfoxcities.org/tornado.

Volunteer Fox Cities is the region's volunteer coordination organization, and the route Outagamie County directs people to for tornado response.

They have posted dedicated Volunteer Tornado Response Information and connect individuals, groups and companies with the nonprofits that actually need hands.

Register through them rather than self-deploying. Organized crews get sent where the need is, arrive with the right equipment, and are covered by insurance.

United Way Fox Cities has opened a Tornado Recovery — Community Response Fund taking donations for storm recovery across the Fox Cities.

Why money rather than goods. It sounds cold next to a truckload of supplies, but cash lets relief groups buy exactly what is short, locally, from businesses that were damaged, with no sorting, storage or hauling cost. Donated goods have to be received, sorted and warehoused by the same volunteers who would otherwise be helping survivors.

This is an established local organization, which matters right now — fake relief funds appear within 48 hours of every disaster and this one is well past that mark. Before giving to any other fundraiser, read the warnings in the Avoid Scams section.

Donate online at the link, or call with questions.

Community Clothes Closet is open and running extra shopping hours for storm response. If you lost clothing in the storm, or cannot get to what you own, go and take what you need.

Extra storm hours — Wednesday July 29 to Friday July 31: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., plus Thursday evening 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Regular client shopping hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., and Monday evening 6:00 – 7:45 p.m.

Their phones are not working reliably since the storm. If a call does not go through, email [email protected] instead.

To donate: they need essential clothing and financial gifts to keep up with demand. Donation hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Monday evening 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Gunderson Cleaners also accepts donations on their behalf — preferably in bags rather than boxes, three bags maximum.

The Community Response Fund — 2026 Tornado Relief was activated July 28, 2026, in response to the July 27 tornado. It is a partnership between the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, United Way Fox Cities, and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.

The fund is focused on two equally important goals:

• Meeting the immediate and longer-term needs of community members affected
• Sustaining the organizational capacity of the groups doing the recovery and response work

Grants support nonprofits serving residents across Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah–Menasha area of Winnebago counties. Priority goes to organizations serving those facing the greatest barriers to recovery — including older adults, people with disabilities, low-income households, individuals experiencing homelessness, and non-English-speaking families.

Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, and churches or other public entities able to receive tax-deductible contributions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed weekly; you may reapply as needs evolve.

Questions about applying: [email protected] or 920-702-7640.

Keller, Inc.'s Kaukauna office is collecting donations to support local families affected by the storm as the community begins to recover.

Accepting: non-perishable food and personal hygiene items.

Through noon on Friday, July 31. Drop off at the address below.

In Keller's own words: "Thank you for helping us care for our neighbors."

Les Stumpf Ford is offering two forms of help to anyone affected by the storm.

Free shuttle service. If you cannot get to a doctor's appointment or pick up essential prescriptions, call and ask for Shuttle Service. Transportation is provided within the Fox Valley for essential medical needs.

Donation drop-off and pick-up. Stop by during business hours to donate, or to pick up supplies if you need them. They are collecting and distributing:

• Bottled water
• Cleaning supplies and disinfecting wipes
• Work gloves
• Contractor trash bags
• Paper towels and toilet paper
• Flashlights and batteries
• Diapers and baby wipes
• Non-perishable food
• Gift cards (grocery, gas and home improvement)

Organized teams get routed to households that requested help, arrive with the right equipment, carry insurance, and are supervised by people who know what a compromised tree or a live service drop looks like.

• Crisis Cleanup (844-965-1386) coordinates the relief organizations working the area — contact them about joining a team
• Local churches and service clubs are usually organizing crews within days; watch community Facebook groups
• 211 can connect you with volunteer needs as they are registered

If you do volunteer: bring heavy gloves, boots with puncture-resistant soles, eye protection, long sleeves, and your own water. Make sure your tetanus shot is current.

For those interested in volunteering, Volunteer Fox Cities is still assessing community needs and determining where volunteer support will be most helpful. In the meantime, sign up for the Tornado Volunteer Standby List — your name will be added to a list to be contacted once more specific opportunities are known.

When registering:

• Select yes when asked whether you want to be called upon in the event of a disaster
• Include any tasks, resources, or assistance you are able to offer
• Note any relevant skills, certifications, disaster training, or equipment you have — this helps match volunteers to needs as they are identified

Please be patient and wait for a specific call to action. Do not show up to affected areas unless instructed. Local emergency management is still determining where help is needed most.

Blood on the shelf is what treats injuries today — donations made now replenish supply for the coming weeks. Storms also cause blood drives to be canceled across a wide area, so shortages tend to follow disasters even where nobody was hurt.

• American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS or redcrossblood.org
• Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin operates donation centers across the Fox Valley

Schedule an appointment rather than walking in — centers are busy after a disaster.