The Neenah-Menasha Emergency Society (NMES) was organized in 1906. NMES is an all-volunteer organization that provides emergency financial assistance to residents living in Neenah and Menasha, Wisconsin.

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Residents with emergency financial needs are referred to NMES by social service and other organizations after traditional forms of assistance have been exhausted or are not available. These emergency financial needs often arise as the result of a job loss, medical catastrophe, or both. Referrals for financial assistance are initiated by agencies such as Winnebago County Department of Human Services, public and private school administrators and counselors, public health nurses, LEAVEN, FISC, and Goodwill. All requests for assistance must come through a recognized referral source. This ensures that other sources of relief are unavailable or have been exhausted and that community resources are not duplicated.

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Examples of emergency assistance NMES provides include payments for rent, utilities, beds and bedding, medical bills, bus passes, medical equipment and supplies, heating repairs, vehicle repairs, clothing, and baby items. NMES is often able to respond to requests within a day or two.

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In addition to providing emergency financial assistance to local residents in need, NMES also operates a Back-to-School Fair, our Caring for Kids Program provides winter gear and other necessities to students in the Neenah and Menasha school districts, and our Caring for the Community Program includes serving at the Fox Valley Community Table and collaborating with the Valley VNA Senior Care to provide the Meals on Wheels program in our area.  All of these programs were created to help those in need.

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Read about all we've accomplished this year in our Annual Report.