At Oshkosh Area United Way (OAUW), our Community Vault serves as a central collection point for essential items like hygiene products, diapers, cleaning and laundry supplies, school items, and seasonal gear. For years, OAUW has coordinated basic need drives to support local families. When we moved into our current location—which included a vault from its previous life as a bank—we converted it into what is now the OAUW Community Vault, creating a permanent, centralized space to house donated items for the community.
By having one dedicated space where nonprofits, schools, service agencies, and community organizations can access donated supplies year-round, we’re helping stretch limited budgets and meet urgent needs for individuals and families in Oshkosh and the surrounding area.
This centralized approach:
- Simplifies distribution for agencies and makes it easier for families to receive what they need, when they need it.
- Promotes equitable access to resources—for example, one organization might receive an abundance of notebooks but no pencils, while another has plenty of pencils but few notebooks. By coordinating together, we help close those gaps so families are more equally served.
- Minimizes duplication of community efforts, helping resources reach the areas of greatest need.
- Reduces donor fatigue by creating a shared system for giving that maximizes every contribution.
- Reflects collective effort from local donors, agencies, educators, and social workers working together to build a stronger safety net.
Earlier this month, we welcomed members of the newly formed Hygiene Task Force to tour our Community Vault. With over 15 organizations already involved—and room for others to join—this is the largest coordinated effort of its kind in our area to support individuals and families with basic hygiene needs, with an emphasis on area youth.
Why the Hygiene Task Force Was Created
Over the past three years, community advocates in Winnebago County have been working together to find system-level solutions to help prevent and address childhood trauma. Guided by data from the Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review, the
Oshkosh Area School District’s Attendance Matters Campaign, the Winnebago County Community Health Assessment, and the Community Health Improvement Plan, six recommendations emerged.
Each has become a working committee focused on removing barriers for elementary students and their families. The Hygiene Task Force is one of these committees—born out of the understanding that meeting basic needs is foundational for children to reach their full potential.
Goals for the Coming Year
The Hygiene Task Force is focusing on three areas:
- Personal Hygiene Items: Expanding access to free, culturally appropriate products for students and families, while reducing stigma and creating a sustainable, consistent process for distribution.
- Clothing: Partnering with the traveling Community Clothes Closet to ensure students have access to clean, well-fitting, and weather-appropriate clothing throughout Wisconsin’s changing seasons.
- Laundry: Exploring ways to provide supplies and access to laundry services, including a mentorship program to teach middle school students how to do laundry, and building partnerships with local laundromats.
How the Community Vault Supports This Work
The Community Vault already houses personal hygiene items, seasonal gear, and laundry supplies that are free to access for community organizations and schools. By aligning with the Hygiene Task Force, we can help streamline how products are collected and distributed. This reduces the burden on schools and agencies, prevents duplication, and ensures a more coordinated and sustainable process—so that when families need help, the system is ready to respond.
Why this Matters
According to the latest ALICE data, 42% of households in Oshkosh and 38% in Omro cannot afford their basic needs (compared to 35% statewide). These households often face impossible choices—like deciding whether to pay for food, utilities, car repairs, or medications. Schools see the impact firsthand, but they cannot do this alone. Meeting basic needs is a community-wide responsibility, and when we come together, we open the door for everyone to thrive.
Want to Donate Supplies?
With feedback from area agencies, schools, and organizations, we’ve created a list of the most needed items. You can view our full donation list at https://bit.ly/StockTheVault.
Donations can be dropped off at Oshkosh Area United Way, 16 Washington Avenue.
Please call ahead at (920) 235-8560 to make sure a staff member is available to assist you.
What’s Next
The Hygiene Task Force is just getting started. If you’d like to learn more about addressing and preventing childhood trauma—or want to get involved in the Hygiene Task Force—reach out to Hannah Wainio at hwainio@winnebagocountywi.gov.
United is the Way to stretch support in our area.