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Summary of the Autumn:
The NWS conducted its Autumn of Service from September 1 through November 30, 2026. This will be our 16th year of giving back. During this Autumn of Service...
18 NWS employees & 1 Family Members.
8 organizations were helped during the Autumn of 2026.
This included:
1 NWSWeather Forecast Offices (WFOs)
Below is a listing of the various activities held during it.
NWS Food Drive Competition:
Like in past years, the NWS Food Drive Competition will be held during it. It may cover any 31-day period in meteorological autumn.
Over the past 13 years, just over 36 tons (72,256.45 lbs.) of food and $38,069.63 in monetary donations have been given during the NWS Food Drive Competition! All of our numbers are also given to the NOAA Representative to the Commerce Feds Feed Families Food Drive! While the Department of Commerce campaign typically runs from the end of June until early August, our numbers are included in their final count.
Some Other Activities Included:
Collecting Pop Tabs:
NWS La Crosse, WI will be collecting pop tabs for Shriners.
Donating Plasma:
1 NWS La Crosse employee is donating plasma.twice a week. Donating plasma helps to produce life-saving medical treatments for rare and chronic conditions, support emergency trauma and burn care, and earn financial compensation for their time at commercial centers. Because plasma cannot be made in a lab, human donation is the only source.
Helping NICUs:
An NWS La Crosse, WI meteorologist will be knitting and donating preemie and baby hats to 2 local hospitals. Since 2009, he has made and donated 5,464 hats to neonatal units, domestic abuse shelters, cancer hospitals, and the Minnesota Masonic Children Hospital. These hats were distributed in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Making the Holidays Bright:
Holiday gift drives were conducted by the following NWS offices: La Crosse, WI.
School Supplies
During August, one of the NWS La Crosse employees and his wife donated 20 packets of filler paper and several notebooks to a school.
Below is a list of the offices that participated and a summary of what they did during it. If we missed your office's activity during this week, send an e-mail to Jeff Boyne@noaa.gov.
Participating Offices
NWS Regional Headquarters
Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs)
River Forecast Centers (RFCs)
Center Weather Service Unit (CWSUs)
Office Activities during the NWS Autumn of Service
Below are some of the activities that were done across the United States and its territories during the 2026 NWS Autumn of Service:
Food Drive, PopTabs,
Knitted Hats, & Adopted a Family for Christmas
Since February, one of their employees has been donating plasma twice a week. Through mid-August, he has donated 34.5 liters of plasma.
Donating plasma helps to produce life-saving medical treatments for rare and chronic conditions, support emergency trauma and burn care, and earn financial compensation for their time at commercial centers. Because plasma cannot be made in a lab, human donation is the only source.
During August, one of their employees and his wife donated 20 packets of filler paper and several notebooks to a school.
During the autumn, the staff will be collecting food for WAFER. During their past 13 food drives since 2013, a total of 1,363 lbs and $3,853 have been donated to WAFER.
For the 5th consecutive year, they are collecting pop tabs for Shriners. During the previous 4 years, they donated them to Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, MN. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a non-profit organization supporting families around the world helping them access medical care and resources when their child is very sick, including a place to stay, meals, and so much more. Watch this video to learn more about how RMHC Rochester serves their families. While collecting pop tabs seems like such a small way to make a difference, each year $10,000 to $15,000 is raised for the 70-room Ronald McDonald House in Rochester exclusively through pop tab donations.
During December, the office will be making the holiday brighter for local families by buying Christmas gifts for them. This will be part of the La Crosse Family & Children's Center's Holiday Giving Program.
Also in December, an employee and his wife will be delivering preemie and baby hats to Franciscan Skemp Mayo and Emplify Health. Additional hats will also be delivered to New Horizons and Outreach Centers.
WAFER Food Pantry
Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, MN
Gunderson Health System
in La Crosse, WI
Mayo Clinic Health System — Franciscan Healthcare
in La Crosse, WI
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