Rapids
shows its strength: kindness
January
2004
If the
Wisconsin Rapids
community set the tone and pace for 2004 with the way it went out on
2003, we're in for a good year. Last Wednesday, as many of us were
preparing for New Year's Eve parties, the
United Way of
South
Wood
County
continued to receive donations toward its $5 to Thrive campaign. The
goal for that particular part of the
United Way's annual fund-raiser was $50,000. The effort drew $57,508, helping to
avert a projected shortfall in the overall goal of $900,000.
People stopped at the United Way
with $5 bills and checkbooks in hand. The Community Foundation of South
Wood County offered to give up to $25,000 in a matching grant to make
sure the
United Way
raised the final $50,000. In short, the community came through in a time
of need.
On the same day and just across the
street from the
United Way
office, a group of community volunteers was busy preparing free
spaghetti dinners at
St. John's
Episcopal Church for an event called The Neighborhood Table. This was
the group's first community meal, and 55 people participated either by
eating at the church or enjoying carryout dinners. The Neighborhood
Table is intended to feed people who can't afford very many quality hot
meals or are living alone in the community and have a hard time cooking
for themselves. But organizers graciously have opened the meals to
anyone, and they have taken away any potential stigma by refusing to ask
for income records. Volunteers plan to serve the meals at
5 p.m.
the last two Thursdays of every month, with the next one scheduled Jan.
22. The Rev. Marty Carr, who operates a soup kitchen in Oshkosh, was so moved by the effort to address hunger in
Wisconsin Rapids he offered to supply food for two additional Thursdays every month.
Monica Hass was so excited about
preparing for the first meal she showed up at the church a half hour
before volunteers were scheduled to arrive — and two hours before
dinner." I had nightmares about being the only person to show
up," Hass said. "So when I got here I started browning pots of
meat and got going." Coordinator Ginny Steen said many of the
diners offered goodwill donations because they wanted to give something
back right away Others were moved to tears that people would care so
much about the welfare of strangers.
If you took part in the
United Way campaign or the first Neighborhood Table dinner,you should know your
efforts mean brighter days for people who need a little sunshine these
days. As we start the New Year, everyone has a fresh slate to find his
or her own way to build up this community. Giving to the
United Way
is an excellent way of touching thousands of lives through dozens of
programs and services. The Neighborhood Table gives us yet another way
to make donations of time or money.
We can't ignore the enormous challenges
that still face this community in 2004, with a loss of high-paying jobs
and high-profile business closures and cutbacks. But a community that
can take care of its own people is bound to overcome setbacks and find
success.
The Neighborhood Table services the communities of
Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Wisconsin and surrounding areas
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