OSHKOSH — We don't normally toot our own Northwestern horn in Streetwise, but we're going to make an exception in this case.

The Northwestern and a slew of other area businesses have teamed up for the second annual Stock the Shelves campaign. We're aiming to raise $100,000 for 11 area food pantries and there are plenty of opportunities for you to help.

You can mail in a donation or stop by and do it in person at The Northwestern's office at 224 State St., but it doesn't end there.

Express Convenience Centers around the area will contribute 5 cents for every gallon of gas purchased up to a total of $10,000.

And your donation will be matched, too. At least eight local credit unions will be collecting non-perishable food donations and will match up to $5,350 in cash donations. The J.J. Keller Foundation is getting in on the fun by committing to match the first $15,000 in donations, as well.

The holiday season is one of the toughest on families and food pantries throughout the Oshkosh area, so if you can help, please do.

So what do you say? Can you help a bunch of great local businesses Stock the Shelves this year?

»Give it up for DealerFire, an automotive website design firm based in downtown Oshkosh, for winning the Automotive Website Awards' Pinnacle Award for Search Marketing and Mobile Website Platforms at the fourth annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas earlier this month. DealerFire beat out more than 50 other providers to win this year and continue its streak of AWA awards.

»We would suggest congratulations are in order for Mike and Marcia Galligan, owners of Gallmar Industries LLC, 2110 Harrison St., for reaching 25 years in business earlier this month, but it seems the employees already beat Streetwise to it. Employees at the machining and gear treating company surprised the Galligans with lunch at The Roxy and presented them with a plaque thanking them for their commitment to the business.

»Operative Calvin would never claim to be a feline, but we think even he would enjoy a spin on Wiser Pet Products' Cat Power Tower. This cat tower on steroids, made right here in Oshkosh, earned Wiser Pet Products President Andy Luebke an Editors' Choice Award from Cat Fancy magazine recently in recognition of its innovative design, creativity and originality. And in true cat style, the Catnip Newsletter also gave the contraption five paws out of a possible five. Meowsers! Check it out for yourself at www.cat-power-tower.com.