Friends of the State Street Family

11/06/2026

350 WINTER COATS!

A big thank you to our outreach team members Brad and Jenny, who once again took the lead in tackling the $1 Coat Sale this year!

And thank you to Karen, Rollie, and Tammy, who answered our call for volunteers and spent their morning sorting through boxes and boxes of coats to help us find what we needed!

Together, they purchased approximately 350 winter coats for our friends who will be facing the cold Wisconsin winter.

This is a HUGE step toward getting ready for our Winter Warmth Distribution on November 15!

There is a lot of work that goes into making this event happen, and it's volunteers like these who make it possible. We are so fortunate to have people who are willing to give their time and jump in wherever help is needed. Thank you all! 💚

11/05/2026

11/02/2026

October’s outreach was a community effort! We welcomed two new Meal Train donors and welcomed nine donors who regularly prepare meals for our friends. Every meal takes someone planning, shopping, cooking and packing—and gives our outreach team a chance to connect with friends over food.

As the weather gets colder, we’re seeing more requests for warm blankets, hoodies and sleeping bags to meet immediate needs. Many friends are also asking for winter gear as they prepare to face a Wisconsin winter unsheltered.

Thank you to our meal donors, supply donors and outreach volunteers for making it possible to show up each week with food, essential supplies and friendship. Here’s a look at October’s outreach.

10/29/2026

🚨 💚🧥 WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! CAN YOU HELP US? 🧥💚 🚨

We’re looking for several people to join our Outreach Team on Thursday, November 5, at 10:00 AM. Friends of the State Street Family is heading to the $1 Coat Sale at Dig & Save, and we need extra hands to help us purchase 300+ winter coats for our upcoming Winter Warmth distribution!

These coats will be given to our friends alongside winter boots and other essentials to help them stay warm this winter.

📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ Line up at 10:00 AM
📍 Dig & Save Outlet Store
1900 S. Park Street, Madison

We need people ready to dig through racks, find great coats, and help us reach our goal! 300 coats. A morning of teamwork that will make a real difference! 💚

PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] IF YOU CAN JOIN US!

10/28/2026

🥶 Sleeping Bags Needed!

Cold Wisconsin nights are coming, and too many of our friends will be sleeping outside this winter.

Our Friendsmobile outreach team needs sleeping bags to help our friends stay warm.

💚We've made it easy! Visit our Amazon Wishlist, choose a sleeping bag, and have it shipped directly to us. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HOR8FHH2K3OJ?ref_=wl_share

One sleeping bag can make a real difference on a cold night.

10/27/2026

Call for help! We still need donations for Sunday afternoon Outreach. If you are able to provide sandwiches, fruit, sides or drinks we would greatly appreciate it! https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/40qwv2/

Our Mission is to provide help, hope, and friendship to our neighbors struggling with the challenges of homelessness.

10/20/2026

💚More Than a Meal

When Friends of the State Street Family heads out for outreach, meals are often where conversations begin.

Sharing food gives us a chance to check in with our friends, hear how they're doing, learn what they need, and build relationships over time.

Of course, providing a good meal matters. But so does showing up consistently, remembering someone's name, and taking the time to listen.

The meal may bring us together, but it's the friendship that keeps us connected. 💚

You can help make these connections possible! Please consider signing up to provide a meal through our Meal Train calendar. Whether you're an individual, family, or group, your contribution helps keep our outreach teams stocked with meals to share.

Have questions? Email us at [email protected].

Our Mission is to provide help, hope, and friendship to our neighbors struggling with the challenges of homelessness.

10/16/2026

A huge thank you to Race Day Events for donating extra T-shirts from your summer events! 💚

These shirts will be put to great use and make a real difference in our community. We’re so grateful for your generosity and for thinking of us when you had extras to share. Donations like these help us make the most of available resources and put them to good use!

Thank you for your support and for helping us make a difference! 🙌 💚

10/15/2026

At Friends, we’re lucky to have THREE Maddies on our outreach team!💚💚💚

Our “Why” series gives volunteers a chance to share what brought them to Friends, the connections they’ve made, and what keeps them coming back. Today, another of our Maddies shares her perspective after two years on the outreach team. Thanks for being part of Friends, Maddie!

Helping folks who are experiencing homelessness has always been a cause I've felt drawn to. When I moved to Madison for school and lived near the downtown area, I saw people often who were facing this struggle, and felt deeply for them. I also often observed folks being overlook or ignored by others passing by. I decided to look for ways that I could get involved to give back to the Madison community, and that was how I came across FSSF! This team of passionate and empathetic volunteers is so wonderful to work with, and it always feels great to be able to help someone who may be struggling and make their day a little brighter, whether with a snack or just some conversation. You never really know what someone may be going through, and sometimes just taking the time to greet someone or offer a listening ear can make huge difference. I am so glad that I found FSSF and have the opportunity to help others through outreach!

10/13/2026

The Outreach Team will not be walking on our Tuesday downtown route this evening. We will do our best to return next week!