| The Neighborhood Table strives to be a valuable member of our community. When we see others in need, we try to help them. For example:
- In 2015, we partnered with the South Wood Emergency Pantry Shelf (now known as South Wood Emerging Pantry Shelf) and Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin to host mobile food pantries for those in need in Wood County. On average, about 19,000 pounds of food was donated to about 1,200 some people each time a mobile food pantry was held. By the end of 2016, eight mobile food pantries were held, helping about 10,000 people with food that represented more than 96,000 meals.
- Sometimes we have a surplus of food when a meal is served – we don’t let it go to waste. We check the Family Center, a domestic abuse shelter in Wisconsin Rapids, or the Oxford House, an all-male drug and alcohol recovery facility, to see if they would like the surplus.
- Occasionally we receive large quantities of food that is donated to us. If we are unable to use it before it expires or spoils, we share it with other food programs in the community such as the South Wood Emerging Pantry Shelf.
- In December 2013, we joined forces with Hope’s Door and the South Wood County Emergency Pantry Shelf to help assemble and distribute over 500 holiday food baskets for those in need in our area. It is estimated about 2,700 people were served with food from these baskets over the Christmas holiday. Since 2015, we continue to collaborate with South Wood Emerging Pantry to provide holiday baskets to local families in need.
- We also support the Association of All Handicapped Citizens each year when they hold their dance and bingo event by donating treats to share with participants and supplies.
- We helped the Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area start up a self-sustaining food program at the Club by obtaining a $10,000 grant from the General Mills Foundation. This grant provided money to establish raised gardens at the Club as well as to replace and buy equipment essential to preparing food.
- As a partner of the United Way of Inner Wisconsin, we are actively involved with the South Wood County Hunger Coalition in its efforts to combat hunger in our community and county.
- We have also assisted the United Way with fundraising events such as the United Way Drive. We hosted volunteers and drivers to get them out of bad weather and provided them brats and hot refreshments.
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