Deacon Miech Joins FORK Board

Finding the right people to work toward a nonprofit organization’s mission is critical to its success, according to Perry Pokrandt, president of Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) Inc.

“That is why after meeting Deacon Rick Miech of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Eagle River, I just knew that we had to expand our board of directors to include a person with his kind of passion for helping people, especially helping children,” said Pokrandt.

FORK is a nonprofit organization with a mission to raise funds to provide nutritional support to school-aged children from food-insecure homes within the Northland Pines School District.

“In Matthew 25, Jesus calls us to feed those who are hungry,” offered Deacon Miech. “We’ve made great progress in overcoming hunger, but millions of children around the world still don’t get enough nutritious food to live healthy lives. Hundreds of those kids are right here in our local communities. In that fact, our area is slightly above the national average of one in five children living below the national poverty rate. Good nutrition is key to the ability to be a successful learner. That is why I wanted to become involved in FORK.”

Miech added, “Proverbs 22:9 said it most clearly, ‘The generous will themselves be blessed.’ And this area is blessed with many generous folks.”

Deacon Miech comes to the FORK board with a breadth of experience. As a permanent deacon for almost 20 years, he is ordained to a ministry of service, especially to those in need. He has served in various pastoral ministry roles in parish and diocesan settings, was a college instructor, a technician for Xerox and a deputy sheriff.

Other directors on the FORK board are Scott Foster, district administrator at Northland Pines School District and FORK vice president; Jacki Coghlan, president of the Vilas Food Pantry and FORK secretary; and Dan Biehoff, owner of Eagle River Roasters and FORK treasurer.

“Directors on our board also are Jessica Allen, owner of the Hiker Box, and the Rev. Andrea Fluegel of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Eagle River and the creator of the Backpack Program in partnership with Northland Pines,” said Pokrandt.

“I am joining these individuals who, like myself, support this effort to provide opportunity to the children in our communities. You can make a financial contribution or volunteer on the FORK website at feedourruralkids.org,” said Deacon Miech.