In 1952, a gentleman by the name of Clarence "Pop" Wendt worked as a Probation Officer in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Sadly, his job took him into a great deal of homes where far too many children would go without Christmas gifts and other necessities because of their families' hardships.

Pop made it his personal mission to change that for as many children as he possibly could! He orchestrated his first toy drive by contacting the Jefferson County Social Service workers. They helped him collect and distribute toys for as many children as their funds would allow.

Initially, this program was known as "The Pop Wendt Program". While the goal is the same, more than 72 years later, we carry on these efforts, and Pop Wendt's mission, as the Jefferson County Christmas Neighbors. Each holiday season, we serve hundreds of families and nearly 2,000 children throughout communities in our area!

Office Hours: Nov 4 thru December 9, 2024, 9:00am - 4:00pm