The Things Winter Forgets: The Mission Behind Warm Kids Wisconsin (feat. Dustin Rucker)
Business Over Beer Untapped · Ben Surratt
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Show Notes
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
- Community still shows up
- And sometimes the biggest impact starts with the simplest question: “What do you need?”
🎧 Listen. Share it. Then do something with it.
❤️ How You Can Help
Follow and connect with Warm Kids Wisconsin on social media
📲 @warmkidswisconsin
Donations accepted via PayPal & Venmo
(Search Warm Kids Wisconsin)
Current needs:
- Boots & snow pants (neutral colors preferred)
- Storage totes & vacuum storage bags
- Volunteers with time, skills, or ideas to help
🎧 Business Over Beer
🌐 www.bizoverbeer.com
🔗 https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast
🎬 Produced by WAWI Productions
📸 Instagram: @wawiproductions