Welcome everybody to midday magazine for this Friday November 15th, 2024 at your host James J. Mailoff here and in part two today
We are going to speak with our good friends from not only two hearts catering and representing our VFW as well in this conversation
But we're talking about breakfast with Santa. I want to be a journalist has some journalistic integrity with this conversation
Okay, because we always try to do that here at WFHR
Pam and I have been trying to get Santa on midday magazine here for years
We've never been able to get him you guys got him for breakfast like that's pretty cool
Like and you got it off air
I want to get the contact information because we could just never seem to land this guy
He's really busy. He's very busy. We just can't seem to land him
But we're so happy to have him coming to town. We got breakfast to Santa. We're gonna be talking about today
This is being hosted at our VFW along with our friends at two hearts catering and we have with us today Lisa
Swagal Lisa good to see you with us again. Always good to talk with you. You too. Thanks for being here
And I believe Jody Gellerman am I saying that right? Am I not kidding Jody? It's good to see you
It is good to see you too as well. Thanks a lot for being here. Both of you
We appreciate the time and we know there are a lot of people working behind the scenes to make this event happen
So we shout out them and appreciate all of them as well and more on that in a moment if you don't mind Lisa
I wanted to start just to remind our audience of not only the great work that you guys are doing
But the great food and everything else you guys are doing at two hearts catering
Well last time we came to talk with you we we were doing the honor flight
Raising money for that and we raised $3,100
For about six or seven people veterans to be able to go on the honor flight. Yeah
I
Know how much we appreciated that we love talking with you about it and certainly something like that
Is something that we we note and whenever we have a chance that the honor flights are one of the more
I think it impressive and cool things that we as a community get to be a part of let alone what it means for our vets
And what they what they get from this which is really something you can't put into words
It's it's really cool to be a part of that I imagine is that part of what two hearts catering is the mission
Certainly feeding the community and you know putting some good food out there and everything
But being a part of events like that being a part of events like breakfast with Santa and everything we're trying to give back to the community
As we try to grow the wedding catering business and
tailoring towards businesses and serving some business lunch ends
We we have a mantra that you know
We've used here at the station our community uses quite a bit by local support local
Um and and it's something that we've been doing since before the pandemic even and talking about
But one of the reasons that I when I think of when I say that phrase every time I say it
I think a business is like yours. I think of a businesses that are trying to balance both of those things
They want to do good want to keep the lights on that's you know business 101
But you really want to also feel good every day about what you're doing and and have a passion about have a cause about it and everything and
It's it's such a I really do believe it. I'm a little biased, but it don't mean I'm wrong
This area does this better than anybody where we're able to do these things where a great business like two arts catering is getting out
There you're getting your name out there and certainly hopefully getting some new clientele while also promoting this area helping
This area putting back into this area like with the honor flight or whatever exercises breakfast with Santa
Yeah, it's really unique and you don't see it everywhere. I've lived in a lot of places. You don't see it everywhere
So that's pretty cool. Um, I do want to get the information about how people can get more
Two-harts catering in their life and use the services and everything before wrap up. We'll get that information from elisa
When two-harts catering got started did you see these kind of things in its future doing events like this being a part of things like this is that some of that
Peter and I had talked about how we wanted that aspect of it to be like two heart strings
Mm-hmm. That's really good. Yeah helping out. Yeah, that's perfect when jody's come on. She start helping the same way
Right. I can I imagine it's a way of getting our name out there more too for people who don't know of us
It's something that I I talk about like on air off air with a lot of our businesses
You can't like there are a lot of people out there working really really hard on marketing and sales and I can save you a lot of time and money
Work with a nonprofit attach yourself with nonprofits attach yourself with events like this
There is no amount of money that you can put on the PR that you get from something like that
When you are attached to something involving our vets involving our children or any of this
We hope that people do these things for their heart
We hope they do these things because they want to put into the community and all that
But as I say if I can't reach your heart
I'll reach your wallet whatever it takes to get these things done and and no business person out there is not is turning that down
So couldn't agree with you more him mentioning this we've catered
Lunch and weekend over at love ink
We've catered for what was the other one?
Jeremiah's crossing
We did the lasagna dinner over there last year for fundraiser
It's exactly what I'm talking about you yeah, at least you get it you get it
We appreciate this and let's talk about the event itself breakfast with Santa is coming up
We're looking forward to this Sunday to December 15th 10 to 1
All you can eat breakfast now that that sounds like a lot of food Jody that seems like a lot of food
I don't know if you've seen the Simpsons episode where Homer goes into it already
Eat buffet and they basically have to ask him to leave because it's just too much
They weren't planning for that. I'm curious about the prep that goes into something like this
To to prepare for something where you don't necessarily know
How many people you're going to be having in everything
I want to get into that but I also want to certainly get into the details of the event
This isn't all you can eat breakfast
$15 a person 10 and under are getting in for free
Of course being hosted as we mentioned by two hearts catering and going on over at our local VFW
We say a shout out to our friends over there local VFW post 2534 appreciate the gang over there so much
When it comes to the food Jody, how does that go? What kind of food are we talking? Oh, we're talking to anything breakfast or brunch
We're going to do some Danish's we it will have pancakes or french toast waffles
two different kinds of eggs
Bacon sausage all the works that you would normally have on a breakfast brunch
But I will also be making made-to-order eggs and omelets as well
So that's available your kids can come and they can have exactly what they want on their omelet
They don't have to share it with anyone. Oh, that's awesome. That's a great idea. That's a really good idea
So part of what we do to manage the cost of that is just being able to purchase the items in bulk that we expect to sell for an event like this
Where we really just want to bring the community together
Part of what drives Peter and two hearts catering is is community and events
We recently
Started with the lunch by the river on any of the weekends that we didn't have weddings that we were attending and that was
really a blessing to get out in the community and
Be able to share our food and passion
You know, it's something actually I was interesting um years ago my daughter and I my oldest brio
We were talking and she was telling me how she does she's an ordain minister and she likes to be a part of people's weddings
And I at first I thought it was there were some religious ties to it for her and everything
And that's certainly noted, but it was really just wanted to be a part of people's special day
She really loves that she's a she gets it from her father. She is a foolish romantic as it's not it's a it's it's something that is handed down
But um for her just hearing her talking about how much she wanted to be a part of those things
So you could hear it in her voice and I heard it in your voice right there Jody
How much it means
Certainly to feed the community to be a part of these events to promote things like this to promote a non to promote a local business like two hearts
But it's that extra step that you guys take it to arts catering
It's the extra step that our vfw takes all the time of being a part of the community of giving the community something to look forward to and something to enjoy
Yeah, and it's one of those things that Peter and I really see eye to eye on we want to promote Wisconsin products
We want to be a big part of our community. We we want to feed anyone who's having a meeting
Getting together hosting a conference
It is our pleasure to serve you give us the opportunity
Well said
When it comes to the food we know
I'm so hungry right now. I got to be honest with you guys like that. I wasn't hungry going into this
I knew I would be if we were talking breakfast foods. I love breakfast foods
You've got a lot of a variety of things here
But as far as that prep you mentioned a buying in bulk is that kind of the the best prep you can do would not knowing how much
How many people are gonna be coming or anything like that? Yeah purchasing in bulk
Using items that we would typically carry on hand
um
And we already have all the materials. We just set it up and
We for you to come very cool
With this and of course Santa being there are our kids going to be able to take pictures with Santa or anything like that Lisa
They can use their own cameras and do what they like that's kind of cool
That that's gonna be kind of fun out and visit with everybody
But he'll have a place where he can sit and they can come and visit with him for a little bit
We definitely want to shout him out and thank him for doing this
I know we cannot imagine how busy is this time of year and everything
So it is really cool. It's a real get. I'm telling you. That's a hard guest in land. You got him. That's a good one
When it comes to the VFW being a part of this
I imagine that there's a lot of places that you could have this event at
That would be great places and that we got a lot of great places
I we had our elks lodge and other places like that that are great at hosting these events and we appreciate them doing that
I imagine that it means something
Special to be able to have this at our local VFW
To be able to host this there
With and not only the great people over there, but also bringing people to our VFW
And especially those that have never seen the building inside or anything like that. There's a lot of history there
Yeah, yeah, and now one of the things that I I encourage people a lot about when it comes to
Bringing your kids to events and you say you're going to an event
They ask you to bring a non-perishable food item or something like that and there's no a lot of these events
You don't have to do that
But your kids are seeing you do it and when your kid sees you do something like that
More times than that they grow up to be an individual that does something like that
And when it comes to we're caring about our bets. It is no different
Uh, you see the kids brains they're sponges and they're soaking all this in and they they mimic so much of what we do in life
It's not just our sports teams that we hand down to our kids
It's these things too. So having an event like this
It's a family event. We're bringing kids down there and kids are going to be seeing our vets
Kids are going to be seeing some of these things and whether it is the highs or the lows of this
Being a tent having some attention brought to this so it feels like such a
A win-win without having a better phrase there
To have an event like this that's so family-friendly that's the community is going to love
We'll also at the same time being able to maybe have these kids see something that they haven't seen before and get kind of
Um, get noticed something that they haven't seen before as well
There's some artifacts in a case and some pictures up on the wall and news articles in the tank outside
Yeah, yeah, oh the tank outside
So many people from outside the community even tourists will stop
I have taken pictures of dozens of people that can't came just to see the tank got admitted bring your kids down
The veterans they they thrive on interaction with the community. So I think they really appreciate what we do bring
To their place was just talking with Senator test and about
How is on us as citizens to transition for you know vets coming out of the out of the war out of war out of out of battle out of just serving
Any of these things. I've got a cousin out there right now who was overseas serving and
Talking about what he might do next and in making sure that transition is better for him and everything
There's a lot of that that goes on with those this is something well while some of those things
We can't necessarily do much about those are you know businesses and different things
This is one we can do something about bringing attention to this and bring attention to
Not only the things that are going on with our vets, but just how hey this is something that maybe one day you could do
Maybe one day you might serve our country and do you know do something like that there's so many layers to an event like this
Along with of course just having a good time just having fun. It's gonna be a fun event
You got Santa. Yeah, I mean you can't go wrong. You got Santa at this about there. That's gonna be a win win right there
Um as far as uh win uh, you know getting served and all that
How long the event might take just kind of a casual thing. It seems like something you come in and out
Don't need to register for this event either
You can call for reservations if you want to make sure to set up. Excellent. I'm locked in a time in case we get busy
Then we can save a table space for you very cool, but walkins are welcome
Great. That's good. That's good
Was there anything else that you guys wanted to note before we wrap up here?
You know working working at and with the guys at the vfw post um you see a lot of them are older gentlemen
And there's not a lot of the younger I would say my age middle aged
Veterans that have come out to the vfw and and they need that
Um when you serve together you have a band of brothers and when you come home and you are not a part of that anymore
That that's really a missing piece of your life and if you're feeling that you need to come out
Well said and and thank you jody not only for that but the service and everything else
Yeah, you know how much I appreciate you so and appreciate the time you too
Thank you so much for this. This was a lot of fun. I've been really enjoying this. Did you have some layer Lisa? The rafters
Oh the rafters. Yes. Yes. We've also been in talks with them
To do some special appearances over there later this year nice nice very cool
Well, uh, we are we're the home of the rafter of rafters baseball
So that that just means we get to talk more and hang out even more. I like the sound of that. That's great
And a great time something that our rafters are known for bringing in local businesses. Yeah
Feed in the fans very cool. They're making an appearance
Look forward to it always enjoy talking with you Lisa and really truly appreciate the work that you guys are doing and
Jody, I know it's the first time but you did too good of a job. You're gonna have to come back now
I'm sorry, but you do you were too good. You're gonna have to be back on the air with us sometimes. Oh, I would love to
great
And thank you guys. We're gonna be talking this up
Releaving up to December. We're gonna make sure they get a good turnout for it
And and we'll be playing this again before we get there too
We'll replay this interview and make sure people are up to date on the event itself
And the fun that are gonna be that is gonna be had on December 15th with breakfast with Santa from 10 to one and all you can eat breakfast
15 dollars a person 10 and under you're getting in for free two hearts catering is hosting this over at our local VFW post
2534 27 11 red and road right here in Wisconsin rapids
Lisa if people want to know more about two hearts catering if they would like to use the services of you guys or anything
How can they find out more? How can they reach you? Look us up on two hearts LLC.com
Yeah, two hearts LLC one
Yes, yeah, I forgot the one so I know that's okay
I I've almost done it before too. I've got to have it in front of you just to make sure but that's it two hearts
LLC one.com is the website. It's a great website
Be sure to bookmark it and check that out and I'll say have a contact number here 715 712
1002 715 712 1002 that right too. All right. Great. Thank you both again
So much for what you're doing for our community and putting up with my questions today. I appreciate you
Anytime thanks for the time
Also want to send a big shout out to our scheduler the heart of this station Pam Hilke in the amazing scheduling
She does week in a week out. We appreciate you Pam. You guys have yourselves a great weekend
We'll be back at this next week right here at 97 5 FM 13 20 AM WF HR. We are locally grown radio