The sun shone, the food was delicious and the smiles abounded from young and old alike. If that’s a , description of a seemingly perfect day, then that pretty much sums up the atmosphere Saturday (July 21) at Wisconsin/Minnesota Day at Mooseheart.
Roughly 350 members of the Wisconsin Moose Association and the Minnesota Moose Association visited the Child City for the day’s events.
The afternoon began on a serious, though celebratory, note with the presentation of a 15-person van to Mooseheart Executive Director Scott Hart.
“We had the support of the men and women of the Moose,” said Wisconsin and Minnesota Regional Manager Glenn Garbers. “Everyone involved in the project worked hard to bring us to this day. We’re excited because the people of Wisconsin are happy to do something to help the kids and to do something to help out with something they need here.”
The need for a new vehicle was shown last summer, when the van carrying Mooseheart children to the Wisconsin Dells broke down on the highway.
“We decided it was time to do something,” Wisconsin Moose Charities Chairman Terry Freeman said. “We asked if it was OK if we did a fundraising program for a van, and we were told we could. We raised the funds in a little over a year.
Freeman said the van cost roughly $30,000.
“Now they can go to the Wisconsin Dells in style,” Freeman said. “Or they can go somewhere in the Chicago area in style. It’s important to us that the kids are protected with good vehicles on the road.”
Coupled with vehicles presented to Mooseheart at the July 15 Indiana Day celebration, the Child City vehicular fleet has undergone a transformation.
“That’s one of the great things about the fraternity,” Hart said. “When they set their mind to something, like the Wisconsin Moose did to provide a van for the kids, they get it done.” That van can go straight into service. This year’s trip to the Wisconsin Dells arrives on July 28.
“For them to be able to jump into that van and have that freedom is a great thing,” Hart said. “Today is a day to celebrate and a day for the kids and family teachers of Wisconsin Home to say ‘thank you’ not only for the van but for all they do.”
After the van presentation, visitors joined the staff and residents of the Child City for a picnic lunch at the Ohio Pavilion. Kids’ games followed to complete a satisfying day for all who attended.
“It’s a great day for the members to see where their money’s going,” Hart said. “They get to see what they’re providing for our kids.”
In addition to those who drove their own cars to Mooseheart, a bus traveled from Green Bay, Eau Claire in Wisconsin and a further bus traveled from Minnesota.
“This is fantastic,” Freeman said. “We couldn’t ask for better weather than what we got today. It’s great.”
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