Last year, readers donated $182,400 to fight hunger in Wisconsin. But that fight is ever-present
As the nation continues to battle inflation, stretching a dollar — especially a grocery dollar — is getting harder and harder.
That's why our newsrooms across Wisconsin will again partner with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions to raise money to feed those in need.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, a 41-year-old organization, provides 33.3 million pounds of food each year, via nearly 400 pantries, to more than 30,000 families in Wisconsin's 35 eastern counties, according to data from its 2022 annual report.
This is USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's 14th Stock the Shelves campaign, and since 2010, it's raised enough money for more than 15 million meals to help neighbors in need across Wisconsin thanks to donations from readers and support from community partners and local credit unions. I, personally, started with the company just after the 2011 campaign, and it is something I look forward to every year.
So, why should you be as excited as I am, and why should you donate?
Every dollar donated to Feeding America represents about $10 in purchasing power. Plus, the first $45,000 raised from readers will be matched by Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions.
Additionally, monetary donations allow pantries to get what the people they serve need most — fresh produce, meats and dairy products. This isn't the dry, shelf-stable goods one might traditionally think of when asked to donate spare cans to a food drive.
"Stock the Shelves is always one of the most inspiring things our team works on every year," said Greg Borowski, executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, whose responsibilities include the Green Bay and Appleton newsrooms. "Our journalists are deeply committed to the communities where we live and those journalists work hard every day to tell complete stories about each one."
And we're not just here to ask for donations.
During October, the network's reporters will shine a light on food insecurity in our communities across Wisconsin, and share information our readers can use. What's inflation doing to our grocery bills, and what can you find at a pantry? How does Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin manage to get perishable items into the hands of those in need? Who are the faces in our community who work every day to make a dent in hunger?
"Stock the Shelves is a story of challenges and compassion," Borowski said. "We know when we write about the challenges families face around hunger and highlight ways to help, that the compassion of our readers will shine through."
Even if you don't have the funds to give, we hope that you'll share these free stories and spread the word so someone in need can benefit from it.
"We are excited to continue our partnership with the Stock the Shelves program this year," said Andy Fisher, chief business executive for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. "Over the years this program has helped countless numbers of individuals and families throughout eastern Wisconsin. Last year over $182,000 was raised through this program, providing over 729,000 meals to those in need. Hunger has impacted and continues to impact many individuals and families throughout our communities and this program provides an excellent opportunity to band together to help those in need.”
This year, the campaign hopes to raise enough to provide 750,000 meals — and each dollar equals about four meals.
"We are committed to supporting the communities throughout our USA TODAY-Wisconsin Network and our team is excited to partner with this amazing program again this year," Fisher said.
The Stock the Shelves campaign will support communities served by the following Wisconsin newspapers: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post Crescent, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, Oshkosh Northwestern, Fond du Lac Reporter, Sheboygan Press, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Marshfield News-Herald, Stevens Point Journal, Door County Advocate and Oconto County Reporter.
Donations will help support people in the same community where the donor lives.
As of the morning of Oct. 31, readers have put forward $63,884. Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions will match $45,000 of those funds, and another $10,000 will be matched by Mike and Mary Salsieder, formerly of Wausau, who continue to support the campaign.
The campaign runs from Oct. 1 to 31.
How to donate to Stock the Shelves
To donate online, visit feedingamericawi.org/stocktheshelvesdonate.
To donate by mail, checks made payable to Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin, ATTN: Stock the Shelves, should be sent to 2911 W. Evergreen Drive, Appleton WI 54913.
Enclose with your contribution the donor’s address with city, state and ZIP code for internal processing, a notation of whether the donation should remain anonymous, whether the donation is in the memory of someone special. Also list the donor’s name as it should appear in a thank-you advertisement to be published in the Thanksgiving editions of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s daily newspapers.
For a list of pantries supported by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, visit feedingamericawi.org/find-help.
Our Stock the Shelves reporting
Each week, the network will publish a story addressing a different facet of hunger in Wisconsin. This column will be updated with links to the 2023 campaign's coverage as it happens.
Oct. 25: Wisconsin farmers deliver 220,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to food pantries each year. Here's how
Oct. 18: As grocery prices remain high in Wisconsin, here's what local food pantries can offer
Oct. 11: 'More than a food box program': The Nurturing Collaborative works to help pregnant moms
Oct. 5: Nearly half a million Wisconsinites face hunger. Here's how you can support your local food bank
Oct. 4: Milwaukee chef finds kindred souls at Riverwest community food center
Additionally, here are links to a couple of 2022's campaign stories, which remain relevant:
Oct. 29, 2022: Imagine driving to Minneapolis just for meat. Culturally appropriate foods are vital, even for the food insecure
Oct. 20, 2022: Domestic violence, bad grades, job loss, expulsion: Chronic hunger is more than just a grumbling stomach.
Oct. 17, 2022: How a tribal food program's expansion to all 11 tribes in Wisconsin is also growing food sovereignty for First Nations.
Oct. 14, 2022: 'Hyper-local' Stock the Shelves campaign invites people to specify exactly where they want their donations sent
Taima Kern is editor of the Appleton Post-Crescent, and business editors for the Post-Crescent and the Green Bay Press Gazette. Reach her at tkern@gannett.com or 920-907-7819. Follow her on X (Twitter) @TaimaKern.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin newspapers return with Stock the Shelves 2023 campaign
