APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – This Easter will be a little different for some families in Appleton.
A traditional free meal that is arranged by “We Care Meals” will not be happening.
Ed Rathsack, the coordinator for the “We Care Meals” program said it came down to a lack of resources.
“I just don’t want to let people down,” Rathsack said. “It’s a hard thing to say because I do want to do it, but it takes a lot of time, planning, and money and I just don’t have it anymore,” he said.
Rathsack says the big resource needed is donation money, and they fell well short his year.
“We do an average meal of 500 pounds of turkey, 500 pounds of ham, then you throw in the mash potatoes, veggies, salads, it gets to be expensive. We spend over $4,000 on one meal,” Rathsack explained.
To date, Rathsack says he has only been able to raise about $700 dollars.
“We’ve been blessed, I’m never going to deny that. But it’s not enough to have people donate and not be able to fulfill my obligations,” said Rathsack. “Will we try again for Christmas, probably. But no guarantees.,” he said.
Every holiday, “We care Meals” provides about 1,200 dinners for families in the Fox Cities, they’ve also provided home deliveries for anyone who needs it.
