Food Pantry Demand Rises as More Reedsburg Area Families Need Help - August
Summer arrived with both a splash and a heat wave, but it also brought a significant increase in families needing food assistance from the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry (RAFP). As we continue working to reduce food insecurity throughout the Reedsburg and Weston School Districts, June brought a larger increase in demand than we anticipated.
Following the end of the Second Harvest Food Bank distribution at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, we expected to see more local families turning to the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry for help. In both April and May, we served nine new families. Then, with school closing for summer and The Den at Reedsburg Area High School becoming inactive during summer vacation, 24 new families came to RAFP for food assistance in June alone. This increase exceeded our expectations and is already being felt on our food pantry shelves.
During the second quarter, the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry provided food assistance to 658 families, including 42 families who were new to our pantry. In total, we helped provide food for 1,757 people, many of whom are children and seniors. These numbers highlight just how significant the need for food assistance and hunger relief continues to be right here in the Reedsburg, Wisconsin area.
As more families experience food insecurity, providing fresh and nutritious food remains an important part of our mission. The Reedsburg Area Food Pantry will be adding more fresh vegetables to our grocery purchases, and we also welcome fresh food donations, nonperishable food donations, and monetary contributions from community members. These donations help us provide families with the healthy food they need during difficult times.
Unfortunately, the increased demand for food assistance has also arrived during the normal summer slowdown in donations to the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry. With more families relying on local food resources, continued community support is especially important. Residents, businesses, and organizations throughout the Reedsburg and Weston School Districts have continually shown the generosity needed to help us fulfill our mission of reducing food insecurity, and we are asking for that support once again.
One of the easiest ways to help is by making a monetary donation through ReedsburgAreaFoodPantry.com. Online donations allow the pantry to purchase fresh vegetables, proteins, dairy products, pantry staples, and other high-demand foods based on the current needs of the families we serve.
Every food donation and financial contribution helps keep our shelves stocked and allows the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry to continue providing food assistance with dignity and compassion. Thank you to everyone throughout the Reedsburg and Weston School Districts who continues to support our mission. Together, we can continue fighting hunger in Reedsburg and helping local families, children, and seniors access the nutritious food they need.
Author: Mark Schaerfer
