FORK ENDOWMENT FUND DONATES 1,000 MEALS TO VILAS FOOD PANTRY

By Vilas News-Review, Posted on February 21, 2023

Vilas Food Pantry Food Manager Janlee Goska accepts the 1,000 meals provided by the FORK Endowment Fund to go to hungry families in Vilas County. —Contributed Photo

A donation of 1,000 meals to the Vilas Food Pantry by the Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) Endowment will make a visit to the Vilas Food Pantry even more impactful for families with children this March, announced Vilas Food Pantry Food Manager Janlee Goska.

“Now, thanks to FORK, families visiting the Vilas Food Pantry during March will receive five bonus meals for each of their children,” she said.

FORK’s mission is to provide nutritional support to children from food-insecure homes within the Three Lakes, Northland Pines, and Phelps school districts. The FORK Endowment is a financial planning tool of Feed Our Rural Kids Inc. and annually provides financial support to area organizations, like the Vilas Food Pantry, whose mission is to feed local children.

“This gift is a great opportunity to help the Vilas Food Pantry attract additional food-insecure families, thus helping many more area kids,” explained FORK President Perry Pokrandt. “The five additional meals per child, per visit, through the end of March is an added bonus offered in support of families. Through this effort, we hope to attract additional families to consider leaning on the Vilas Food Pantry to help them get through their current challenge of food insecurity.”

The Vilas Food Pantry is located next to the Kalmar Community Center at 1013 N. Railroad St. in Eagle River. They are open for food distribution each Wednesday from 8:30 to 10 a.m., and the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. Families looking to determine their benefit eligibility prior to visiting the pantry can call Vilas Pantry Director Sandy Weber at 715-479-9581.

Individuals who would like to donate to the work being done by the Vilas Food Pantry can mail their check to: The Vilas Food Pantry, P.O. Box 761, Eagle River, WI 54521. Additionally, direct food donations can be made to the Vilas Food Pantry at either Trig’s or Pick ‘n Save in Eagle River. The Vilas Food Pantry is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“We are grateful for the support of the FORK Endowment,” said Jackie Coghlan, president of the Vilas Food Pantry. “The donation of 1,000 kid-friendly microwavable meals is an opportunity for the pantry to expand the impact of our services to families we currently service, while also potentially extending our outreach to additional families who currently don’t utilize the pantry.”

Pokrandt encouraged community members who financially support the Vilas Food Pantry to continue to do so, as their work is vital.

“However, if you have a passion for kids and would like to help support FORK programming or future FORK Endowment gifts, go online at feedourruralkids.org/donate,” he added.

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