Local Food Pantries Depend on Rotary Winter Wonderland
In its first ten years, Rotary Winter Wonderland contributed more than 464,000 food items to 27 pantries throughout Central Wisconsin. Without this annual donation, many local pantries would not be as successful in fulfilling their mission to help local families.
“We have become dependent on the food items collected each year to get our shelves stocked for the winter,” said Cheryl Lewis Hartl, Director at Soup Or Socks Food Pantry and Clothes Closet in Marshfield. “We try to make the donations received last until the spring food drive and into the summer.”
A volunteer-driven organization dedicated to providing clothing and/or food at no charge to those in need in the greater Marshfield area, Soup Or Socks relies on Rotary’s donation to meet the needs of the households it serves. Last year alone, the organization received approximately 20,000 items from Rotary. Throughout Wonderland’s decade-long existence, she estimates about 150,000 items donated.
“Without this support, we may not be able to provide enough nutritious food to our families,” said Hartl. “The donations allow us to provide enough food for every member of the household to have three meals a day for five days. Since our mission is to help a wide geographic area, we are better able to fulfill our mission with the generosity of Rotary Winter Wonderland donations.”
Hartl encourages those interested in donating to a local pantry to call first and see what is needed.
“The needs change almost on a daily basis, so if you want to donate what is most needed, calling is always the best idea,” she said.
She also recommended checking expiration dates before donating, to ensure that the product is able to be used.
“It helps us tremendously if the donations are current or have a longer shelf life,” she said, adding that circling the date on the food item also helps.
Rotary Winter Wonderland opens the day after Thanksgiving.
