Tomahawk Leader Newspaper

Top Menu

  • eBooks
    • Tomahawk Leader
    • Tomahawk Leader Extra
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Message Board
    • Forum
    • Log In

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Nature
  • News
    • Government
    • Sports
  • Covid 19
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • School
  • Tomahawk Fishing Report
  • Classifieds
  • eBooks
    • Tomahawk Leader
    • Tomahawk Leader Extra
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Message Board
    • Forum
    • Log In

logo

Tomahawk Leader Newspaper

  • Home
  • Nature
  • News
    • Government
    • Sports
  • Covid 19
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • School
  • Tomahawk Fishing Report
  • Classifieds
FeatureNews
Home›Feature›Warm the People: Knot Haus continues tradition of offering free winter clothes to those in need

Warm the People: Knot Haus continues tradition of offering free winter clothes to those in need

By Jalen Maki
January 12, 2021
205
0
Share:
Char Andreachi and the free winter attire available in front of The Knot Haus in downtown Tomahawk. Photo submitted by Joan Laabs.

By Joan Laabs

Tomahawk Main Street Inc. Volunteer

TOMAHAWK – If a coat could talk, what might it say to a lady in need? Perhaps, “Put your arms inside my sleeves, and I will keep you warm.”

If a special little jacket could smile, what message could that send to a little girl or boy? Maybe, “You can wear me to school tomorrow and feel like you too are special.”

If a heavy coat could reach out, what would it tell the man on the street? How about, “Wear me to work and know that someone gave this coat to lighten your load and to lighten your day with hope.”

“Warm the People” began in 2019 as a charitable program founded by The Knot Haus Gift Gallery in Tomahawk. According to the business owner Char Andreachi, “I had attended a Tomahawk Main Street meeting at Tomahawk Community Bank that included discussions about community needs. I was surprised to find out how many homeless folks, as well as families with basic needs, lived in our community.”

Andreachi envisioned a program that in some way would involve anonymous donors and anonymous recipients. It was then that the idea of an outdoor coat rack was born.

“People are people, instead of customers, when they drop off a coat or choose a coat or jacket from the outdoor rack in front of The Knot Haus,” Andreachi stated.

The coats and jackets hang inside a protective plastic sheet, and they remain outdoors every day around the clock. Each morning before she opens her store, Andreachi counts all of the coats and all of the empty hangers so she knows how many items have been shared. From those numbers, Andreachi can tell that from late fall until early spring, the coats are calling out: “Take me if you need me, take me if you want me.”

That is exactly what happens.

During that first seasonal period in 2019-2020, over 200 coats and jackets were chosen by people in need. This November, 40 coats were chosen in that one month alone, and over 200 so far for the first part of the 2020-2021 season.

“Folks are now also dropping off caps, gloves, mittens, scarves and boots so several totes and boxes have now been added for those items,” Andreachi said.

The Knot House also shares items with the Tomahawk Food Pantry if they have individuals or families who need items from the outdoor rack.

What does it mean when a Tomahawk Main Street business reaches out to those in need? And what does the “not-so-silent” connection of donors and recipients say about our community? If the coats could talk, they might echo a Main Street slogan: “Tomahawk Together – It’s a Tradition!”

And what can be said about Char Andreachi? She strives to make a difference in her “little spot in the world.” Apparently, that little spot is managed by a big heart. The program she initiated has expanded her original vision as it continues to successfully “Warm the People.”

TagsThe Knot Haus Gift GalleryWarm the People
Previous Article

City Council: Ad-hoc committee will create plan ...

Next Article

Tomahawk Area Historical Society publishes new book

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • News

    WisDOT seeking public feedback on WIS 107 project in Lincoln County

    August 10, 2020
    By Jalen Maki
  • FeatureNews

    Lincoln County road construction continues

    July 7, 2020
    By Jalen Maki
  • Live Well Lincoln County
    Covid 19News

    Live Well Lincoln County: Recovery support available during COVID-19 pandemic

    May 26, 2020
    By Jalen Maki
  • News

    Happy Kids Backpack Program receives donations

    September 15, 2020
    By Jalen Maki
  • FeatureNewsSchool

    Tomahawk High School Class of 2020 graduates virtually

    June 12, 2020
    By Jalen Maki
  • News

    Community Calendar and News Briefs: Dec. 18, 2019

    December 17, 2019
    By Jalen Maki

  • Covid 19News

    Weekly drive-through COVID-19 testing in Lincoln County continues into 2021

  • NatureSports

    Allan Bell’s Birch Bark Nature Notes revisited

  • Obituaries

    Joel F. Bucaro

TOMAHAWK WEATHER

Latest News

Covid 19FeatureNews

DHS: COVID-19 vaccine to be available to adults 65 and older beginning Jan. 25

Courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 19 that adults age 65 and older will be ...
  • Donna M. Nagel

    By Jalen Maki
    January 19, 2021
  • Nancy Louise McDougall

    By Jalen Maki
    January 19, 2021
  • Stacy L. Higgins

    By Jalen Maki
    January 19, 2021
  • Harold C. Lueck

    By Jalen Maki
    January 19, 2021

© 1998-2019 Tomahawk Leader, Inc., Tomahawk WI
315 W Wisconsin Ave – PO Box 345
Tomahawk, WI, 54487 – Phone: (715) 453-2151

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.