WISCONSIN TOURISM COLLECTS OVER 21,450 ITEMS FOR ANNUAL “BIG BUNDLE UP”

Over 60 industry partners and businesses collected 21,452 donated items to help keep Wisconsin warm this winter

With winter temperatures covering the state, Wisconsin residents, travelers and businesses came together to donate warm items for those in need as part of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s eighth annual “Big Bundle Up” campaign. A total of 21,452 winter clothing items, including hats, mittens, scarves, coats and snow pants, were donated to charities throughout Wisconsin. Since 2011, the campaign collected more than 155,893 donated items.

“We are so proud to see the dedication and enthusiasm of our tourism partners in making this a tremendous success for the eighth year running,” said Tourism Secretary-Designee Sara Meaney. “I am grateful to the many partners who displayed Wisconsin values by working to help keep residents warm as a result of this campaign.”

The Big Bundle Up developed out of the 2011 “Great Lakes Mitten Campaign,” and has grown into an annual tradition inviting the public to donate new and gently used winter items to participating Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, and local businesses. After the completion of the campaign on Jan. 2, tourism partners donated the collected items to local charitable organizations and shelters.

Wisconsin leaders and businesses also did their part to help keep the state warm this winter. The campaign draws corporate donations, including an annual donation from Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Knitwear. The company donated 1,000 hats to the campaign this year.