A few years ago an established charitable organization running the “Warming Shelter,” known in town as the “Blue House”, decided that they could no longer serve a population referred to as the “Street People.”

During the early months of 2007 occasional random discussions occurred at bible studies, social concerns committees and around kitchen tables regarding the closing of the shelter. Information surfacing about men sleeping under the bridge began to tug at the heartstrings of Don and Carol Stoegbauer. No person, regardless of one’s social or personal situation in life, should have to suffer the consequences of “sleeping in the cold.” Don and Carol Stoegbauer decided to do something about the homeless who had no protection from the winter elements.

Don approached Therese Janssen and Ellen Wolff-Priemsberg about his concern for the life and safety of the people who were left out in the cold. Subsequently, Don held multiple meetings to discuss the possibility of “re-opening” a warming shelter. His goal was for “every person to have the opportunity to a safe and warm place to stay,” at least during the cold winter months. Informational meetings were held at St. Mary’s Church in downtown Appleton as well as at Monte Alverno. Interest in the “homeless population” was growing. Lt. Geenen, an Appleton police officer attending one of the meetings, informed the attendees that between 12-15 people were in need of a place to stay. Tom McCord, a counselor from the Mooring House, shared that he, too, was very aware of the serious need arising within the community.

Don continued the drive to move forward with a solution to open a safe haven for the protection of the homeless men and women in the valley. A committee of four, Don and Carol Stoegbauer, Therese Janssen, and Ellen Wolf-Priemsberg , began to approach other like-minded individuals about the plight of the homeless. By January of 2008 the committee of four grew into a board of directors boasting ten members with the following officers: Don Stoegbauer - president, Bill Guilbeault - vice president, Carol Stoegbauer - secretary, Peter Bekkers - treasurer, and Therese Janssen - volunteer coordinator. Ellen Wolf-Priemsberg and Allen Bjarnson were named co-managers and shared the responsibilities of coordinating the efforts of the warming shelter.

The Stoegbauer dream of a safe haven for homeless men and women came to fruition in February of 2008 when the first season of the FOX VALLEY WARMING SHELTER, INC. opened its doors at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Appleton. The first season ran from February through April of 2008 in the Great Hall at St. Joseph. Fr. Larry Abler, pastor at St. Joseph Church, stepped forward, organizing volunteers to provide a hot meal each night for the clients. Notices were placed in church bulletins alerting the community to the needs of the homeless. Fundraising began. Bedding, pillows and sleeping mats were purchased; vouchers were obtained for laundering linens and clothing; and bus passes were secured for those using the warming shelter who were working or looking for employment.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2008 the board of directors worked tirelessly searching for an affordable, appropriate building to shelter the homeless. Efforts to purchase Mr. Roy’s Bridal Salon on Wisconsin Avenue in Appleton in late August suddenly fell through. Carol Stoegbauer had done extensive research investigating multiple communities throughout the states on the option of a rotating shelter. The board of directors agreed upon the implementation of this plan and the FOX VALLEY WARMING SHELTER, INC. opened its doors to the homeless population in November of 2008 as a Rotating Shelter.

The Rotating Shelter (second season) ran from November 2008 through the end of April 2009. Twenty churches opened their doors to provide a safe haven to the marginalized in our society. Using church facilities on a rotating basis was a short-term fix for addressing the homeless population in the valley. This plan called for continual weekly movement of the entire organizations’ property including the bedrolls and personal belongings of each of the clients residing at the shelter. Transportation to outlying churches presented another concern. How were our clients to travel to each of these facilities? The solution came in the gift of an 8-passenger van and later an 8-foot trailer. The use of the van and trailer eased the burden of transporting the necessary organizational items from church to church, provided a safe form of transportation for the clients, and provided storage during the months that the FVWS was not in operation.

The board of directors continued to meet weekly. Newsletters mailed every few months kept the community abreast of the progress of the FVWS. A Development Director was hired in August of 2009 and a Capital Campaign was planned to raise the necessary funds to build a permanent structure.

Our third season began in October of 2009 and ran through the end of April 2010. We welcomed four new churches to our rotating shelter. During the first week of operation a Kick-Off for our Capital Campaign was held behind the Saint Vincent de Paul Store located on west College Avenue in Appleton. St. Vincent de Paul of Appleton has partnered with the FOX VALLEY WARMING SHELTER, Inc. to lease the land behind their store to house a permanent structure for the homeless.

We are grateful to all those who have laid the foundation for what has turned out to be a community outreach in serving the homeless.

Donald Stoegbauer died on June 28, 2009.

The FOX VALLEY WARMING SHELTER, Inc. continues under the leadership of Bill Guilbeault as president, Gary Crevier as vice president, Penny Robinson as secretary, Peter Bekkers as treasurer, Therese Janssen as volunteer coordinator, and Brad Vivoda as executive director of the FVWS.

Carol Burns