Note: Hours are by appointment only. Contact Lona Long Velasco at (414) 231-4820 or llongvelasco@childrenswi.org.
Hours
About Robyn's Nest
Robyn's Nest is a core support program of Children's Wisconsin dedicated to providing essential resources to Children's Wisconsin families, especially those involved in foster care. Its primary role is to ensure that children and youth entering foster care have immediate access to basic necessities like clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, infant needs, and household goods. Beyond its initial focus on foster families and caregivers, the program extends its support to any Children's Wisconsin family accessing services—including primary care, dental care, or parent education—who may be struggling financially, or who are recovering from domestic violence, natural disasters, or catastrophic losses. The program was created in 2009 in memory of Robyn Hitchman, a devoted Children's Service Society of Wisconsin social worker, to continue her deep commitment to supporting local children and families.
Parking
The Robyn's Nest is located at the southeast corner of the parking lot behind the office building at 620 S. 76th Street. Please enter the parking lot at 74th and Main and drive straight back for easiest access.
Donate
Robyn’s Nest relies on generous donations from the community to provide items to children, youth and families in need free of charge.
Donate Money
- Donate Online: To ensure your generous gift supports the work being done at Robyn’s Nest, please follow these steps:
- Follow this donate online link
- On the donation form under “Gift Designation”, use the drop down menu to select “other."
- Type in Robyn’s Nest.
- Contact Community Resource Specialist, Lona Long Velasco at (414) 231-4820.
- Mail a check payable to “Robyn's Nest” to:
Children’s Wisconsin – Milwaukee Office
Attn: Lona Long Velasco, Robyn’s Nest
620 S. 76th Street, Suite 120
Milwaukee, WI 53214
Donate Items
- Online Wish Lists: Purchase items through RightGift (which provides a 1% donation) or one of the specialized Amazon Wish Lists:
- Donation Drives: Organize a drive using one of the downloadable toolkits (for baby showers, holidays, back-to-school or neighborhoods).
- Master List Drop-off: Items purchased from the Master Wish List can be dropped off by appointment. Contact Lona Long Velasco at (414) 231-4820 or llongvelasco@childrenswi.org.
Items We Accept
- New or gently used in season clothing
- New school supplies
- New toys, games and books
- New or gently used backpacks, totes, duffel bags and suitcases
Items We Cannot Accept
To ensure the safety and comfort of families, Robyn's Nest cannot accept items such as:
- Furniture, computers, or used appliances.
- Used/like-new stuffed toys.
- Clothing other than clean, gently used or new infant, toddler, children, and youth apparel.
- Latex items, perishable food, or sports cards.
- Toys that are dirty, broken, or have violent/religious themes.
- Handmade articles (caps, fleece blankets, quilts, booties, etc.)
Volunteer
Volunteers help with both ongoing tasks and special events. Their duties include:
- Receiving, sorting, and stocking donations on shelves and racks.
- Maintaining the facility's organization.
- Assisting staff in finding items for families.
- Helping with large events like donation drives and distribution fairs.
How to Apply
To volunteer, you must complete and submit the required forms:
- Volunteer client confidentiality agreement
- Robyn’s Nest volunteer application
- Volunteer photo consent
- Minor volunteer form
You can submit your completed forms by emailing them to llongvelasco@childrenswi.org or by mailing them to:
Children’s Wisconsin – Milwaukee Office
Attn: Lona Long Velasco, Robyn’s Nest
620 S. 76th Street, Suite 120
Milwaukee, WI 53214
Holiday Giving
Thank you for your interest in donating to kids and families this holiday season! There are 2 main ways to donate to Robyn's Nest for the holidays. Employees are asked to donate monetary contributions during the holidays which are used to fill in gift areas of need for infants, children and teens, in addition to the year-round supplies.
Online or By Mail
- Purchase Gifts Online: Buy items from the Amazon Wish Lists (listed above under Donate), which include gift ideas for all ages.
- Donate Money: Give a financial donation online or send a check/money order payable to "Robyn's Nest" to the address below. To ensure your generous gift supports the work being done at Robyn’s Nest, please follow these steps:
- Follow this donate online link
- On the donation form under “Gift Designation”, use the drop down menu to select “other."
- Type in Robyn’s Nest.
Shipping Address: Ship gifts or monetary donations to:
Children’s Wisconsin, Community Services; C/O Lona Long Velasco
620 S. 76th St. Ste 120, Milwaukee, WI 53214
In-Person Drop-Off
- Schedule an Appointment: Contact Lona Long Velasco at (414) 231-4820 or LLongvelasco@childrenswi.org to schedule a specific drop-off time.
- Location: The drop-off location is behind the main offices
Guidelines
- New Items Only: Only new items can be accepted.
- Gift Suggestions: They need toys, games and books for younger kids, while teens appreciate gift cards (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, Target), electronics (tablets, gaming devices, headphones), and sports apparel. Gifts that promote diversity and support local businesses are also appreciated.
- No Wrapping: Please do not wrap gifts. You can place them in a gift bag as long as they are viewable. They also accept donations of wrapping paper, bows and tissue paper.
Donating early helps staff distribute gifts to all children in time for the holidays.