The Things Winter Forgets: The Mission Behind Warm Kids Wisconsin (feat. Dustin Rucker)

About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Dustin Rucker about his nonprofit Warm Kids Wisconsin, which provides essential winter gear to children in need.

This episode of Business Over Beer is different—and it needed to be. No beer. Just coffee, conversation, and a mission that hits straight in the chest. Host Ben Surratt sits down with Dustin Rucker, founder of Warm Kids Wisconsin, a nonprofit working directly with elementary schools to make sure kids across the state have what they need to survive Wisconsin winters: boots and snow pants. It all started with one giving tree request: “I just want snow pants so I can play with my friends.” That moment changed everything. In this episode, Dustin shares: Why coats aren’t the biggest need—boots and snow pants are How one small idea turned into helping hundreds of kids across Wisconsin Why teachers and counselors are often quietly filling the gap What people misunderstand about nonprofits and donations His own childhood experience growing up without winter gear How community, connection, and saying “yes” keeps this mission moving forward Warm Kids Wisconsin now works with schools from Chippewa Falls to Sheboygan, helping 30–40 kids per school, with 100% of donations going directly to kids—no salaries, no overhead, no nonsense. This episode is a reminder that: Small donations matter…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Surratt

Guest: Dustin Rucker

Topics covered

• nonprofit work
• community support
• winter gear
• education
• child welfare

Keywords

• nonprofit
• winter gear
• boots
• snow pants
• community support
• education
• donations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Warm Kids Wisconsin

Places: Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls, Sheboygan

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