FORK expands children’s pantry; adds new members

Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) recently made the decision to expand its Children’s Pantry Committee after the announcement that the pantry would extend into Sayner and Conover.

“With the planned expansion of FORK’s Children’s Pantry program into Sayner and Conover in 2022, there was a need to expand the committee who supports that effort,” explained Children’s Pantry Chairperson Jean Arndt.

The four current pantries — located in St. Germain, Land O’ Lakes, Phelps and Eagle River — are supported by Arndt, along with committee members Deb Obrodovich, Jayne Winblad and Betty Wright.

“FORK’s decision to place a Children’s Pantry into Sayner at the Plum Lake Public Library and into Conover at the town hall means that we needed to also expand our committee in support of those new locations,” said Arndt. “We are excited to announce that Conover will be supported by new committee member Kendra Lederer, while the Sayner location will be supported by new committee member Marsha Krieck.”

FORK’s Children’s Pantry program provides more convenient access to food support for food insecure households with children across central and eastern Vilas County. At this time, the opening dates for the Conover and Sayner Children’s Pantry locations is set for later in the spring.

FORK invites individuals, businesses and organizations to adopt their hometown Children’s Pantry by dropping off child-friendly food donations at the pantry location in their area. Financial contributions to this effort can also be made by going online at feedourruralkids.org/childrens-pantry or mailing a contribution to: FORK Children’s Pantry, 4887 Echo Ridge Dr., Eagle River, WI 54521.

Individuals can learn more about how they can take advantage of FORK’s Children’s Pantry as a food resource for their children by contacting childrenspantry@feedourruralkids.org or calling Jean Arndt at (309) 647-0474.

For information related to specific current Children’s Pantry hours call either Northland Pines Elementary School resource Katie Stuckemeyer at (715) 479-8989, ext. 4528, or Phelps School District resource Jason Pertile at (715) 545-2724, ext. 115.

FORK is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.