Hey, everyone — and welcome, November!

It’s pretty wild to think that more than three months have already passed since an EF3 tornado tore through Primitive Gatherings’ hometown of Menasha, WI, this last summer. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve never been more proud to say I’m from Menasha after watching the community — and so many surrounding communities — come together after such a devastating and scary event. It seemed like everyone who could help did so in whatever way they could. Businesses supplied equipment, food, and manpower, while thousands of volunteers showed up to help clear debris, restore power, and begin to put people’s lives back together. The outpouring of support has been remarkable, and it’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when people come together for one another. Thank you to everyone who’s contributed so far!

Of course, rebuilding a community means more than clearing debris and repairing homes. It also means restoring the places where people gather, play, and make memories together. Menasha High School is one of those places, and it unfortunately sustained significant damage during the tornado. The damage extended beyond the classrooms to the school’s athletic facilities, including Nathan Calder Stadium. Four rows of bleachers were ruined, leaving a large portion of the stadium seating destroyed. The press box and concession stand roofs were also damaged; railings were pushed inward, windows were shattered, and sections of fencing were torn away. Next door at Bayer Field, home to the boys’ soccer program, fencing, goals, and benches were damaged as well, forcing the team to make other arrangements this year. All of this has made it that much harder for students and athletes to return to their regular routines. The Bluejays have kept their season going, but football games had to be moved to Lawrence University’s Banta Bowl in Appleton.

Needless to say, getting their facilities back will take time, work, and continued community support. Playing at the Banta Bowl has allowed the Bluejays to keep their football season going, but it’s no substitute for having a home stadium of their own. That’s part of what makes their participation in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights Contest such a big opportunity. With a $1 million grand prize on the line, the contest could provide a tremendous boost toward bringing Calder Stadium back and giving the Bluejays a place to call home again!

Now, truth be told, the contest has actually been underway since this spring, with schools entering and working their way through the competition for a chance at the $1 million grand prize. I only found out about Menasha’s involvement late last week, which unfortunately means we missed some valuable time to spread the word and get votes in. We can’t make up for the days we didn’t know about it, but we can certainly make the most of the time we have left! That’s why I’m sharing it with all of you today. Starting now, and every day going forward, we can help support the Bluejays and their effort to bring Calder Stadium back!

Want to help? Voting is easy, and like I said, you can do it once every day now through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Just visit T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights voting page by clicking the button below, find Menasha High School among the four division champions, and cast your vote for the Bluejays! You can return each day and vote again, so don’t just make it a one-and-done — every daily vote counts toward the $1 million grand prize!

The city of Menasha and its Bluejays have certainly shown how tough they are, but even the toughest teams need a little help sometimes. That’s where we come in! PG stitchers know a thing or two about determination, teamwork, and pitching in when someone needs a hand — you prove it every time I ask you for help with something like this! We may not be able to get out on the field with the Bluejays, but we can get behind them in a big way by voting in this contest. I’m excited to say that after putting in the work since spring, the Bluejays have managed to nail down an official finalist spot, which means they are now one of just four schools competing for the grand prize… SO CLOSE!! Please vote! YOUR vote could be the one that causes them to WIN!

Well, as Murphy’s Law would have it, now that I’m about ready to pack up my things and head home for the day, it just started raining pitchforks outside — gotta love our fickle fall weather! That reminds me… know what else is being fickle around her? Our phones! If you’ve tried to call The Gathering over the last couple of days you probably got a “number out of service” message. That’s because the construction crew that’s working on burying our downspouts decided to rip through a bunch of wires underground while they were at it — despite us having called Digger’s Hotline like we were supposed to. Oh well, things happen. Just know that if you need to get ahold of us, emailing thegathering@primitivegatherings is the best way to do it until they get it fixed. If you need to talk to someone directly, you can also give the shop a call at 920-722-7233. Fun, fun — take care, everyone… and don’t forget to VOTE!!!

~Lisa