Dear editor,

Five-year-old Cheryl had no contact with her father because her parents did not get along. When her mother was no longer available to parent her, she was thrust into her father’s life. The transition was difficult for Cheryl and her father. Her father called Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Community Services for help with this difficult transition.

Cheryl and her father participated in the Children’s-Child and Family Counseling program in Marshfield. This nonprofit, nonsectarian agency, with funding available through the Marshfield Area United Way, provides counseling to anyone regardless of their ability to pay.

A highly trained child and family therapist worked collaboratively with Cheryl and her father to assist in understanding Cheryl’s development, developing a behavioral plan at home, stressing the positive behaviors that Cheryl presented, and teaching and modeling appropriate parenting techniques.

In counseling the father gained the confidence he needed to parent Cheryl full time. As his confidence grew, what had initially been a “parallel” life together became an “interactive” life together. Laughter and cuddling soon dominated their time together.

Your donations to the Marshfield Area United Way matter and have helped others — along with Cheryl and her father — build happier and healthier lives. Please support Marshfield Area United Way’s annual campaign to continue this important work.

Gretchen K. Hintz

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Community Services Counseling Manager

Dear editor,

Child care is part of the daily routine for millions of American families with young children. Working parents rely on child care to earn the income they need to support their families and ensure that their children are well-cared for in safe environments while they are at work. High quality child care that provides a safe, stable, developmentally appropriate, and stimulating environment helps children enter school prepared to learn, but it comes at a cost, a very high cost for many struggling families.

According to data gathered by Childcaring Inc. from regulated child care programs across the Marshfield area, families can expect to pay about $171 per week or $8,550 per year for full-time care of their infant. For the family who has an infant and a 3-year-old, this cost becomes about $337 per week or $16,850 per year.

Child care fees are expensive because caring for a young child is labor-intensive work. Child care providers cannot lower their prices while maintaining the low child-to-caregiver ratios that lead to better learning environments and safer places for children. Training and education for child care providers, safe facilities, and other factors that improve the quality of child care may also increase child care fees.

Support from Marshfield Area United Way helps Childcaring Inc. to make quality child care more affordable for families through our Scholarship Aid program.

All children deserve excellent early childhood care and education. Please give to United Way.

Kelly Borchardt

Childcaring Inc. Executive Director

Dear editor,

Thanksgiving season reminds us to reflect on the many generous gifts of support from the community of Marshfield. For the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center (MARCC), United Way support is a major gift to our nonprofit agency.

MARCC provides a social program for individuals coping with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Their caregivers then have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are in a safe and nurturing environment. Caregivers then have time to rejuvenate their health and well-being to rest, meet with friends, shop, and maintain their homes for their loved ones.

Located in the Wesley United Methodist Church, MARCC opened its doors in 1995. United Way supported MARCC from the beginning. MARCC is privileged to have such a long history with United Way. MARCC has cared for nearly 700 families coping with the challenging behaviors of Alzheimer’s and other dementia and Parkinson’s. Because of United Way funding, MARCC has maintained affordable daily costs for families and can offer assistance to those in financial need.

United Way funding has enabled MARCC to expand its outreach programs. Today MARCC offers two support groups for caregiviers of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and for families challenged by Parkinson’s. For over eight years, MARCC has coordinated Parkinson’s educational conferences serving families throughout northern and central Wisconsin. MARCC co-sponsors the Neighborhood Memory Cafe, a free monthly community event and special time for families facing memory challenges. United Way helps communicate our outreach services to Marshfield and the surrounding area.

United Way support is a generous gift to the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center. Thank you, United Way, for giving us the gift of service to those in need. Thank you to all who contribute gifts to the United Way. Your generosity to the United Way is the greatest gift of all.

Marilyn Seidl-Kramer

MARCC Director