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SIDE BY SIDE
There’s a charity in Lake Geneva called Side by Side, and it’s quietly there for those who have fallen into the ‘rabbit hole’ and can’t seen to find their way out. Tom Hartz, who owns a wonderful local restaurant named Simple, although it should really, like Tom himself, be called anything but Simple, throws benefits at his restaurant all the time to help out those in trouble.
A notable woman in Lake Geneva, who’s ‘fallen’ several times, just went in to apply for her second six hundred dollars. Six hundred is the once-per-year limit on getting some cash to buy food or whatever. It comes without strings and is pretty easy to qualify for, and no, you don’t have to know Tom or go to his restaurant. Many people struggle to get by in Lake Geneva. The number of households earning less than $20,000 annually is much higher than most want to believe. Nearly 46% of Lake Geneva grade school students qualify for reduced or free lunches. Side by Side is a wonderful charity organization on Wisconsin Street here in Lake Geneva.
The mission of Side by Side is all about neighbors helping neighbors. Caring about people around you spreads kindness and goodwill which builds a stronger community. Over the years those who have received help through this charity have shared so much gratitude in words and letters and many go on to pay it forward when able. The inspiration behind this charity organization was Sal Dimiceli a local philanthropist and businessman. Dimiceli started ‘The Time is Now’ to help families in need in Lake Geneva in 1989. He saw the need was greater than his organization could handle and provided startup funds for Side by Side in 2006. Side by Side is a nonprofit organization made up of representatives from Geneva Lake area churches, service organizations, and local businesses.
Side by Side is run mostly by volunteers and financed by donations and fundraisers. The volunteers who dedicate their time and compassion, and those who donate need to be acknowledged and praised. With their help, Side by Side can help with short-term assistance to people and help them overcome life’s challenges. Side by Side provides financial help to pay for necessities, including rent, mortgage, utilities, and or prescriptions. They also help with other resources and other forms of help getting people positioned to be set up for success. If you want to help support Side by Side in its mission, or if you are struggling and need help, Side by Side’s website has all the information. You can easily apply for help online or sign up to volunteer or donate at sidebysidelakegeneva.org or send off an email to sidebysidelakegeneva@gmail.
If you would rather talk to someone via telephone you can call 262-581-5927. There’s a terrific Lutheran Church in Elkhorn that also operates independently to provide funds and so many other kinds of help. Even the Mason Lodge, if asked for help, stands a good chance of coming through for those in trouble. These organizations, like the food pantries, are providing so much help to so many go unheralded. The GSR is going to do more research to find out more and provide readers with more options when they feel like they’ve reached the end of the rope or want to pitch in and provide much-needed volunteer help.
