APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – As the holiday season quickly approaches, many families around the Fox Valley are struggling to put food on the table as well as presents under the tree. But local food pantries are doing their best to help everyone find something to be thankful for this year.
Thanksgiving is just a week away, but not everyone has the means to dish out the traditional turkey dinner. Executive Director Monica Clare of the St. Joseph’s Food Program in Appleton says they are already seeing the numbers go up.
“With colder weather, the holidays coming, it creates more expenses for people and makes it more difficult for them to meet the needs. So we usually see an uptick in numbers this time of year,” Clare tells WTAQ News, “normally we are serving about 650 families on a weekly basis. Yesterday we had 171 folks come through, and that’s a little bit higher than we would normally have.”
She also praises volunteers and members of the community who are stepping up to help their neighbors.
“We do have a lot of people who are calling to volunteer, so that’s a nice benefit,” Clare says.
Clare points out that for many pantries, donations this time of year are vital for them to continue operating in the community.
“It’s really a time when a majority of our funds come in. So obviously support of food is always welcome, but funds are also necessary to pay the bills and keep things running,” says Clare.
Down the road at Freedom Center Food Pantry, Director Jo Vandermause is citing a similar increase ahead of the holidays. Vandermause says they could use more volunteers, but a handful of community donors are stepping up to the plate.
“One person took it upon herself to donate 100 turkeys so that families can have that at Thanksgiving,” Vandermause says.
Local organizations including several churches and even biker groups focused on eliminating hunger are also pitching in ahead of Turkey Day.
Vandermause says the pantry is working to find more donations, but adds that “it’s been particularly helpful to have some of these inviduals and groups who have been stepping up to help out with that shortfall.”
Click here to find a food pantry close to you.
