Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave

Cords for a Cause is a fencer-led initiative whose mission is to collect broken fencing body cords, repair them, and provide the repaired cords to fencers and clubs that have limited access to such equipment.

By extending the life of used cords and redistributing them where they’re most needed, we aim to reduce waste and expand access to fencing.

At Cords for a Cause, we believe that no one should be stopped from fencing because of the cost of equipment! What starts as just fixing a few broken cords turns into something bigger….a way to help and support other fencers and — more importantly —a way to make the sport a little more accessible for everyone!

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Daily, June 28th - July 7th, after 5 PM (July 7th after 1 PM)

Volunteers will collect left-behind/broken body cords around the competition venue at the end of the day. After collection, the body cords should be dropped off in a box labeled “Cords for a Cause”, which will be located at the armory. Volunteers should take a picture of the collected cords and send it to cordsforacause.fencing@gmail.com.

You will earn 1.5 service hours for each time you collect cords — all without even leaving the Convention Center!

There is a maximum of 2 volunteers per shift.

Hilton Milwaukee, 509 W Wisconsin Ave

We’re going to assemble Snack Packs for guests of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin. They’re a perfect pick-me-up and take-me-wherever treat for when guests of the House don’t have time to sit down and eat a whole meal, or when they just need something to nibble on throughout the day.

Each Snack Pack will contain a few healthy, non-perishable and pre-packages snacks plus a bottle of water and an encouraging note. We need volunteers to assemble the bags and to write encouraging messages on notecards.

We’re aiming to assemble 100+ snack packs.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Monday, June 30th, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM

We will meet in the lobby of the Hilton Milwaukee and proceed to the Conference Room together. The Hilton Milwaukee is connected to the Baird Center via skywalk.

8948 Watertown Plank Road

Better known as “The House that Love Built”, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin first opened its doors in 1984. Its mission is to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare. RMHC Easter WI currently has 84 private guest rooms and 9 kitchens and common areas. Its team of over 400 dedicated volunteers and staff help keep families together when it’s most needed.

Volunteers will help cook and serve dinner service for 70 guests at the House.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Tuesday, July 1st, 3:00-6:00 PM

There is a maximum of 10 volunteers for this project.

Volunteers must be minimum age 14 at the time of volunteering.

Volunteers (both minors and adults) must bring a photo ID.

Volunteers must be completely illness or symptom-free at least 72 hours prior to volunteering.

RMHC Eastern Wisconsin is about a 15 minute ride from the Baird Center.

Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave

Brrr! It’s cold outside! While most of us bundle up when the temperature drops, there are many people who don’t have enough to wear during the cold winters. You can do something kind for your neighbor and learn a new skill by volunteering to make scarves for the homeless.

Founded in 2022, Knit Knot Knoop’s mission is to educate young people about the homelessness epidemic in a creative way. We knit scarves and donate them to the homeless though our partner organization, Ezra. Knit Knot Knoop was created by Kate Elterman, a women’s epee fencer who wanted to do something kind for the homeless in her community during the pandemic. Kate has taught over 40 fencers how to knit and the organization has since grown to three chapters in the US.

Scarves knitted by Knit Knot Knoop volunteers give homeless individuals the extra layer of warmth they need in the colder months. It’s a layer of love and kindness. We will teach you how to knit and provide all the supplies. This is something that once you learn how to do, you can do at every tournament or in your spare time.

All knitting levels are welcome, from beginner to experienced.

Available dates and times to volunteer:

Tuesday, July 1st, 1:00 pm

Wednesday, July 2nd, 3:00 PM

We will meet at the USA Fencing check-in desk and work in a quiet space in the Convention Center.

You will receive 2 hours service credit for this volunteer project.

1700 W Fond du Lac Avenue

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest hunger relief organization in the state, with locations in Milwaukee and Appleton. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is an independent member of the Feeding America network. Collaborating with nearly 400 hunger relief programs including food pantries, meal programs, and shelters, the nonprofit organization provides healthy food for our neighbors facing food insecurity across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Wednesday, July 2nd, 9:00-11:30 AM

Wednesday, July 2nd, 1:00-3:30 PM

Volunteers will help sort, pack, and label donated food.

Volunteers must be minimum age 10, and both minor waivers and adults waivers must be completed.

There is a maximum of 14 volunteers per shift for this project.

Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Gloves and masks are provided if desired.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is about a 7 minute ride from the Baird Center.

Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave

Introduce the sport you love to local youth in our first ever fencing carnival..the Fencing FunFest!

The program will be led by Ataba Fencing Club, home of Olympian Margherita Guzzi Vincenti. Volunteers may help with leading smaller groups, demonstrating fencing actions, answering questions from the audience, setting up, and other activities.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Wednesday, July 2nd, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

No prior experience with coaching or fencing demonstrations is required.

The Fencing FunFest will begin at 10:30 AM, but volunteers will help set up at 10:00 AM.

The Fencing FunFest will be held in the Convention Center.

1300 W Fond du Lac Ave (Running Rebels’ Building)

Since 1982, The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin’s mission is provide meals and associated services to Milwaukee’s hungry and homeless. This goal is trifold: to feed the hungry not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. Each year, The Gathering feeds about 60,000 meals. What began as a small hunger-relief organization has now grown into a 1,500-2,000 strong volunteer group.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are hosted at various local sites all within Milwaukee. Breakfast, the meal that we will prepare and serve, is hosted Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Running Rebels, a youth-mentoring organization.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Thursday, July 3rd, 8:00-10:30 AM

There is a maximum of 8 volunteers for this project.

Volunteers must be minimum age 10.

An adult chaperone will be provided by DoGood, but parents are welcome to volunteer alongside their fencer.

Please dress appropriately: no sandals (closed-toe shoes only), no bare midriffs, no short shorts.

Parking and volunteer entrance is located on the corner of 13th and Vine Street (just before the cul-de-sac. 

Running Rebels is a 5 minute ride from the Baird Center.

Delivered to Interchange Food Pantry, 130 E Juneau Ave

Blades Against Hunger is a charitable initiative dedicated to uniting the fencing community in the fight against hunger. By collecting and donating surplus unused, non-perishable food and drinks from tournaments, we aim to reduce food waste, support local food pantries, and make a meaningful impact on those in need. Together, we strive to demonstrate that small acts of generosity can create positive change, both on and off the strip.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Wednesday, July 2nd, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Thursday, July 3rd, 9:30 - 11:30 AM

Saturday, July 5th, 9:30 - 11:30 AM

Volunteers will collect the donations from the box located at the USA Fencing check-in desk and bring the items to the Interchange Food Pantry. Donations should be delivered to Shelly McClone-Carriere at the pantry.

To confirm completion of the volunteer project, email a picture of the donated items at the pantry to bladesagainsthunger@gmail.com.

Volunteers will receive credit for 2 service hours for each time slot.

Interchange Food Pantry is a 13 minute walk or 2 minute ride from the Baird Center.

Don’t find a volunteer project that fits your schedule? No problem! You can still make a difference in the community by donating to United Way’s Backpack Coalition.

The Backpack Coalition is a year-round drive held by United Way to provide backpacks and school supplies to kids whose families have limited financial resources. Each year, families spend on average $140 per student on school supplies. The Backpack Coalition helps to free up those resources so that families can redirect them elsewhere - for important things like food, rent, clothes, medical care and other bills. Last year, United Way provided 8,000 backpacks to students in Milwaukee and Waukesha County.

Through reduced pricing from vendors, United Way is able to provide a backpack filled with school supplies for the year for just $30. $30….that’s about the same cost as two burger meals from Shake Shack, or two bowls from Chipotle, or four cookies from Crumbl Cookies.

How many backpacks can our fencing community provide? Click on the button below to help a local kid get the chance to do well in school!