'SUSTAINED SUPPORT.' Whirlybird Coffee Co. (2829 County Hwy I, Chippewa Falls) has continued to accept and deliver donations for the area's homeless since an initial campaign effort in November 2024. (Photos via Whirlybird's Facebook page)

Back in November this past fall, Chippewa Falls’ Whirlybird Coffee Co. made a bold move for a small business — any public-facing business, really: the local coffee shop shared their stance on a contentious community topic, online. In this case, it was about the Chippewa Valley’s homeless population.

Homelessness, unfortunately, remains present across many locations and communities. As the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness describes, it has also been a humanitarian issue for centuries – not unique to any singular era.

In 2024, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Homelessness Assessment Report, found the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night, during a Point-in-Time count, was the highest ever recorded: a total of 771,480 people nationwide. That’s a 19% increase compared to the first year HUD published the report, in 2007.

Locally, the Chippewa Valley has seen an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness alongside the rest of the country. There are a number of organizations and initiatives aimed to address the variety of factors impacting that rise; but the truth is, there is no silver bullet, no one-size-fits-all solution. (That said, Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council recently announced its plans to open Eau Claire’s first-ever Day Resource Center.)

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THAT FIRST MONTH FELT LIKE A MIRACLE, AND HONESTLY, IT HASN'T STOPPED SINCE.

The public response wasn't just generous; it was transformational. People didn't just donate; they engaged. It's clear that this is more than a one-time effort; it's become a collective act of humanity and love.

LIZ VAN AARDE

WHIRLYBIRD COFFEE CO.

There is one overnight shelter in the area, located in downtown Eau Claire. The Sojourner House (618 S. Barstow St.) largely relies on donations to offer its guests a variety of needs, including additional clothing, blankets, hygiene products, and snacks. It relies solely on donations for the nightly meals it provides to the roughly 50 adults it has the capacity to host overnight.

On Nov. 4, 2024, Liz Van Aarde, whose family owns and operates Whirlybird Coffee Co., shared a social media post announcing its launch of the "Love Your [Unhoused] Neighbor" campaign. The post offered insight into Liz’s personal experience volunteering for Sojourner House, and the shelter’s frank need for additional donations and support from the community.

“Hi, Friends! Liz here. I’m so excited (and a little nervous, tbh!) to share a big piece of my heart with you all. Here goes,” the post begins. Ultimately, a month-long campaign kicked off, Whirlybird Coffee Co. acting as a donation site for items that Liz would deliver to homeless individuals and those at the shelter.

While the initial campaign came and went – with an outpouring of support and donations – six months later, people are still dropping off items at Whirlybird Coffee Co.

“What started in November as hopeful invitation turned into ‘Mount Warmth,’ ” Van Aarde said, referring to the mountain of donated coats and boots, blankets, and other items piled up just outside the business’s interior doors.

A social media post shared by Whirlybird Coffee Co., dropping off some of the donations received from the community. 

“That first month felt like a miracle, and honestly, it hasn’t stopped since,” Van Aarde said. “The public response wasn’t just generous; it was transformational. People didn’t just donate; they engaged. It’s clear that this is more than a one-time effort; it’s become a collective act of humanity and love.”

Van Aarde said the donations have directly impacted those who receive them, but an intangible effect has also taken place. “That sustained support has meant the world to me and to our unhoused neighbors, who are reminded, through warm socks, blankets, and so much more, that they’re worthy of being cared for," she added.

Van Aarde continues street outreach and volunteer efforts on her own, and disperses the donations community members bring to Whirlybird Coffee Co. Certainly, more individual community members have shown up in ways seen and otherwise, than their team could have hoped for, she said.

The drive continues today, and as a token of gratitude, Whirlybird Coffee Co. offers a 50% discount on any drink on Wednesdays for those who bring a donation. "But honestly, people's willingness to give has gone so far beyond any incentive," Van Aarde said.

The small business remains in contact with Sojourner House, and additional community members have also become a consistent point of contact.

One such person is local Marta Jeanke. If you frequent any of the online foodie groups, particularly the Eau Claire Foodies Facebook group, you may recognize that name.

Jeanke, a volunteer for Sojourner House, organizes meals and plans potlucks for the shelter, ensuring meals are provided. Van Aarde called her, “a powerhouse of compassion and coordination.”

The drive continues today, and as a token of gratitude, Whirlybird Coffee Co. offers a 50% discount on any drink on Wednesdays for those who bring a donation. “But honestly, people’s willingness to give has gone so far beyond any incentive,” Van Aarde said.

Keep up with Whirlybird Coffee Co. online for future updates on its community efforts, and more. You can learn more about Sojourner House online at cycles.org/the-sojourner-house.

Whirlybird Coffee Co. is located at 2829 County Hwy I, Chippewa Falls • The Sojourner House is located at 618 Barstow St., Eau Claire