HELP 414
SUPPORTING THE CITY WE LOVE AND CALL HOME
Let's help those who have always been there for us by being here for them.
If you're a business, non-profit, venue, restaurant, cafe, bar, cultural institution, or someone raising money for those hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, hit Contact to let us know. We'll list it here.
If you're providing social services or other resources for those in need, thank you. Tell us about it and we'll list it so other know to come to you or donate to you.
*Note that this compilation is a work-in-progress. We are aware of other initiatives and have not intentionally omitted anyone. That said, please let us know what you're up to and we'll keep updating as time permits.
Milwaukee area fundraisers:
UNITED WAY URGENT NEEDS FUND
United Way’s nonprofit partners in Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County are experiencing increased need for emergency food service, additional costs for needed medical equipment, more pay for staffing and a greater need for cleaning supplies. This fund will support the urgent needs of nonprofits as they arise.
INTERCHANGE FOOD PANTRY
The local resource has been affected by shortages, and needs help buying wholesale goods for those whom they serve.
TANDEM COMMUNITY MEALS
One of the best restaurants in town has stopped taking orders to focus on making food for donations to those of greatest need in our community. Please support this heroic gesture, if you can.
IMAGINE MKE ARTIST RELIEF FUND
Help for artists and creators who have lost so much income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
#SAVEOURSPOTS
GoFundMe campaign organized by our friend C.J. Krawczyk to support treasured Milwaukee restaurants forced to close through difficult times.
UNDERGROUND ONLINE MUSIC SERIES RELIEF FUND
The z2 Marketing fundraiser wants to help those in Milwaukee's music scene who don't have the income they usually would.
Milwaukee area non-profits:
HISTORIC MILWAUKEE, INC.
Social distancing means no tours or events. The Milwaukee institution could use your support through donations or their online store.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MKE
In response to concerns over COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is offering resources our Clubs families and the greater Milwaukee community to help youth stay engaged and learning while ensuring their safety. Help support their ongoing mission.
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF WISCONSIN
The Red Cross always needs blood donations, but the need especially urgent right now. Learn how and where to donate blood during this crisis.
LAKEBEAT MUSIC ACADEMY
Help the 501(c)3 music school, which is moving lessons online and continuing to teach even for students who can't pay during the crisis.
Milwaukee area businesses:
SHERMAN PHOENIX
The home of several small businesses and gathering place for wellness and community needs your support more than ever.
VANGUARD
The Bay View bar and restaurant is closed as Wisconsin shelters in place. The usual cool merch, and even pandemic closing-specific t-shirts are available online. There's a staff relief fund, too.
LAKEFRONT BREWERY
The home of Riverwest Stein has re-opened its Beer Hall for online pre-ordered grab & go food and beer, beginning with the Friday Fish Fry on April 3 from 3-8PM, and the daily menu every other day from Tuesday through Saturday.
MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE
An annual Milwaukee Day tradition is now live for the entire month of April. Get a full year of the city's flagship publication for $4.14, whether you're a new or current subscriber.
LOST WHALE
If you're able, please make a donation to directly support the restaurant's staff during hard times.
SIP & PURR CAT CAFE
Help keep the East Side treasure paying their bills by sponsoring one of the cats who can't wait to see you again.
PALOMINO
The Bay View bar has delivery and curbside pickup for to-go food orders, and $10 for every $50 gift card purchased goes directly to furloughed employees, who you can also tip virtually.
RIVERWEST PUBLIC HOUSE
Help the community gathering place for music, art and libations reopen its doors when we get through this.
ODD DUCK
Support one of the best restaurants in town during tough times by purchasing items, including gift cards, or tipping virtually through their online store.
BLACKBIRD BAR
The Bay View neighborhood bar needs help during their closure.
HOOLIGANS BAR
More than 30 staff members are unable to work at this East Side institution, and your support would let them take care of you again soon.
STAG BARBERSHOP
The 10-year-old shop had to close for the time being, and its barbers would be grateful for your help.
CACTUS CLUB
The legendary Milwaukee live music venue remains committed to bringing patrons, artists and staff of all walks together. Your support of the employee relief fund would help make sure that continues.
THIS IS IT!
Milwaukee's longest running gay bar has been a treasure on Cathedral Square since 1968. If you have the means, help them bridge the gap in cashflow during the shutdown so they keep going strong.
SMALLPIE
The neighborhood counter-service cafe offers curbside and at-the-door pickup and delivery for online and phone orders. And $10 of every $50 gift card purchased goes to staff, who you can also tip virtually.
X-RAY ARCADE
The relatively new Cudahy bar is already a destination for well-known touring bands, and the venue staff needs our support.
PUDDLER'S HALL
The Bay View neighborhood bar is raising funds to help staff pay the bills during its shutdown.
ROCHAMBO COFFEE & TEAHOUSE
The cozy, friendly Brady Street staple has a virtual tip-jar to raise funds for its employees who don't have hours.
BOONE & CROCKETT / SNACK BOYS
The Milwaukee bar and its restaurant partners could use your support.
PABST THEATER GROUP
A fundraiser with 100% of all proceeds going to every Usher, Bartender, Event Staff member, or Stagehand whose work makes the show we attend special.
VOYAGER WINE BAR
If you can, please help give relief to the staff that makes one of Milwaukee's newest spots so special.
ROGUES GALLERY x ELWOOD'S
The longtime Milwaukee Day partner and beloved Juneau Avenue space has 16 staff members who would be grateful for any money we put in the virtual tip-jar.
BRYANT'S / JAZZ ESTATE / AT RANDOM
The trio of beloved cocktail bars also needs help through this difficult time.
REVEL BAR
The Bay View bar encourages patrons to use its virtual tip-jar to support displaced staff.
HIGH DIVE
The RIverwest bar and live music venue needs some relief for staff that doesn't have hours.
HONEYPIE CAFE
Milwaukee's finer diner has delivery and curbside pickup for to-go orders, and $10 for every $50 gift card purchased goes to furloughed employees, who you can also tip virtually.
COMPANY BREWING
The brewer of Milwaukee Day lager is a top-notch restaurant and music venue when they can be open, too. Help them if you can.
SABBATIC
The Walker's Point bar hopes to raise funds to help staff who have lost income during the shutdown.
GOODKIND
The popular Bay View restaurant has an excellent staff who could use relief without steady incomes.
FINKS
The friendly and cozy East Side bar would be grateful for our support to get employees through tough times.
HIGHBURY PUB
One of the premier spots in town to watch football matches from around the globe needs help for its staff.
MIRAMAR THEATER
If you can, please help the Milwaukee mainstay on Oakland Avenue pay bills and employees through its temporary closure.
CRAZY WATER
A staple of Milwaukee dining for 20 years, the staff needs support, and the restaurant offers curbside pickup.
STRANGE TOWN
The East Side's lively vegan dining destination could use help supporting its employees who are out of work.
BURNHEARTS BAR
The Bay View corner tavern could use your help for a staff that doesn't have hours right now.
LANDMARK LANES
The legendary East Side spot below The Oriental Theater would be grateful for support of their service industry family.
UP AND UNDER
Brady Street's live music home is grateful for your support for those hit hard during the shutdown.
STUBBY'S GASTROPUB
The friendly, hardworking staff would appreciate any contributions to the virtual tip-jar.
THE NEWPORT
The Bay VIew neighborhood bar hopes you'll help raise funds for their family of staff.
MOBCRAFT
Let the bartenders and employees know you appreciate them by contributing to the virtual tip-jar.
WALKER'S POINT MUSIC HALL
The dedicated staff of this unique live music venue would be grateful for support during this tough time.
VON TRIER
The East Side institution has been through a lot in recent years, and hopes we can help get its staff through this.
THE TONIC TAVERN
The KK Avenue spot hopes that we'll dig into our virtual pockets and toss a crumpled bill or two across the pine.
COUNTY CLARE
The Irish bar and hotel staff needs help paying bills due to loss of income.
WATER STREET BREWERY
The Downtown mainstay invites us to add to the virtual tip-jar fortheir excellent staff.
THE STANDARD / STELLA'S
The proprietors of these spots are asking help to give its employees peace of mind during difficult times.
HOSPITALITY DEMOCRACY
The 200 employees of AJ Bombers, Holey Moley, Smoke Shack, Onesto and Blue Bat need all the relief we can give them through temporary closures.
BARTOLOTTA RESTAURANTS
The group of beloved restaurants asks its guests to help support its incredible family of employees.
Milwaukee area resources and services:
UNITED WAY VOLUNTEER NEEDS
The United Way of Greater Milwuakee & Waukesha County needs volunteer help in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
VISIT MILWAUKEE - GET INVOLVED
Find ways to help small businesses and those in the tourism and hospitality industries in Greater Milwaukee.
BACKLINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
Backline Milwaukee and Motown Accelerator are hosting emergency two-week virtual programs for artists affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
EBENEZER STONE MINISTRIES
The nonprofit food pantry provides bag lunches and hot meals on Saturdays, plus Wednesdays from 8-11. Visitors can also get clothing by appointment. Financial support is greatly appreciated, as are food donations from restaurants or suppliers.
*Businesses selling or serving Company Brewing's Milwaukee Day Lager:
Company Brewing
Discount Liquor
Ray's Wine & Spirits
Downer Wine
Consumer Beverage
Outpost Natural Foods (Wauwatosa and Capitol Drive locations)
Others to come
More to come! Let us know what your business has going on and we'll list it.
STILL LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO CELEBRATE?! HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO. MAKE SURE TO USE #MKEDAY AS YOU SHARE.
* Find the spot where Hank Aaron hit his last home run in the Miller Park lot.
* Do the custard rounds in a single day. Leon's, Gilles, Kopp's, Oscar's… Who's best?
* See whatever's playing in the main house of the historic Oriental Theatre.
* Gear up for skateboarding at Sky High on Howell.
* Skip some stones on Lake Michigan.
* See some art and underground local comedy at Var Gallery.
* Spend the night at a house designed by the one and only Frank Lloyd Wright.
* Pre-set your car's radio to local independent stations - 88Nine, WUWM, and WMSE.
* Don't know the password at The Safehouse? Then dance like you mean it for the patrons inside.
* Find an angle of MAM's Calatrava that's never been photographed before.
* Cheese-curd eating contest? Cheese-curd eating contest.
* Teach your out-of-town friends how to correctly pronounce, "Mwaukee."
* See the next big thing with a show of up-and-comers at an intimate local club.
* Yell a lot at the next Brew City Bruisers roller-derby bout.
* Out late on the East Side? Don't miss out on the ramen at Ardent.
* High-five an MCTS bus driver.
* Try something new in the 'Tosa Village.
* Hit up the secret rattlesnake button at the Public Museum.
* Tell your kids the story of the real-life Bambi, Lawrencia Bembenek.
* Order something with bacon at Comet.
* Get a group together and take a behind-the-scenes tour of Miller Park.
* When you Instagram art, don't forget to mention the artist in your caption. Then follow them.
* Become a member of Milwaukee Film.
* Support a visiting author at Boswell Book Company.
* Bike the Hank Aaron Trail.
* Treat yo' self to a staycation at the the Pfister, the Iron Horse, Hotel Metro, or the Brewhouse Inn & Suites in the old Pabst brewery.
* Teach yo' self how to spell "Antetokounmpo."
* Clear your paper plate on the cheap at Conejito's.
* If you haven't yet, get yourself a Milwaukee Public Library card.
* Donate any money or time you can spare to one of our amazing area non-profits.
* Memorize all the words to Channel 12's "Hello, Milwaukee" promo song of 1977.
* Experience the city like every out-of-towner and take a tour of a brewery.
* Find something you've never tried before on Center St. in Riverwest.
* Watch Milwaukeean Dan Harmon's "Community" and cheer anytime Abed wears a Dead Alewives t-shirt.
* Go back to the Mitchell Park Domes. It's been way too long.
* Subscribe to the Pabst/Turner/Riverside newsletter, and be the first to know.
* Bring a group to ComedySportz. Or better yet, register for an improv class.
* Find locations for Major League around the Third Ward.
* Clap politely when that touring band imagines they're the first ever to make a Laverne & Shirley reference.
* Shop local! Eat local! Play local!