DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – The De Pere and West De Pere school districts joined forces Sunday for the sixth annual Hands Across De Pere fundraiser, rallying community support for students and families facing tough times.
The event took place at the Swan Club from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring raffles, silent auctions, and live music from Grand Union. Attendees bid on prizes ranging from school athletic passes and art pieces to weekend getaways and baskets filled with beer and wine — all to raise funds that give families “a hand up, not a handout,” organizers said.
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“It means a lot to us to be able to support them,” said Michelle Dahlke, a De Pere school social worker. “School supplies are more expensive, and lunches are more expensive. The eligibility for free lunch has changed, so people who qualified before don’t qualify anymore — things are different now.”
The fundraiser started as an initiative between the East De Pere and Unified De Pere school districts and has grown thanks to an outpouring of local support, said fellow social worker Melanie Brick.
“Whenever we have a need, we have a community that rallies around us and makes things happen for people going through a hard time,” Brick said.
School board member Colleen Nowak said the event is about more than just fundraising — it’s about collaboration.
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“It’s a unique opportunity for us to work together with a common goal in mind — working for the children and the city, and working among the social workers and supportive services on both sides of the river,” she said.
The money raised helps provide emergency assistance for families, including essentials like school supplies and support during crises. Organizers say the annual event highlights what makes the De Pere community special — neighbors helping neighbors.
