Epic staff supported 60 families in need at Christmas

Epic participated in a Dane County program that helped families in need during the 2021 holiday season.

Epic’s staff supported 60 families – including one that has seven children. That family was a last minute referral on Dec. 22. Epic raised $1,265 in four hours for that family alone. Dane County social worker Heather Soehle ran out to Target that same day to purchase the items the family needed.

The Holiday Host a Family Program started in 1979 in partnership with a local church, and Dane County took on the program solo around 2016.

Also among the families supported are teens who are in facilities, hospitals, and don’t go home for the holidays, or often don’t have family.

All families are referred by their social worker and have a demonstrated need.

“These families often live off of donations, secondhand all year, so when they receive new items around the holidays, it’s a big deal,” Soehle said.

This year, the program had a total of 234 hosts, the most it has ever had, she said. It helped 267 families, with a total of 697 children.

Read the full story from the Verona Press.