Danielle Larson, executive director for the Northwoods Children’s Museum, displays the coveted 2025 FORK Crimson Award. —Contributed Photo

Local organizations rely on the generosity and kindness of the community to support initiatives that are important to the lives of people who live and work here.

In that spirit, each year, Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) awards the Crimson FORK Award to someone within the community who has helped provide solutions and support for hungry kids in the North Woods. It was created in 2021 to be an expression of FORK’s gratitude for the non-monetary contributions of an individual, organization, or business to mitigate childhood food insecurity across Vilas and Oneida counties.

This year, Feed Our Rural Kids has selected the Northwoods Children’s Museum (NCM) as recipient of the 2025 Crimson FORK for its initiative, commitment, and support.

FORK President Perry Pokrandt explained that in May of 2024, FORK was invited to a meeting at NCM to discuss the establishment of a FORK Pantry at the museum location in Eagle River. As a result of those discussions, FORK opened its 12th pantry location in July.

Yet more importantly, from that meeting began a discussion of providing 24/7 access to that pantry.

It is from that initiative that the FORK Pantry located at NCM is now available to the area’s food insecure families any time.

“The idea that this collaboration would make food resources available, as needed, day or night, sparked great interest among both organizations’ board of directors,” explained Danielle Larsen, NCM executive director. “The accessibility and inclusivity of a 24/7 pantry was an idea that everyone loved.

From NCM’s perspective, there was never any ‘We can’t do this,’ only, ‘How can we make this happen’?”

Larsen added that supporting families is part of the NCM mission. So, positioning the museum as part of that support, both educationally and nutritionally, was never considered to be a reach by the NCM’s Board of Directors.

“From those very first conversations it was clear that the museum was committed to the idea of 24/7 access,” Pokrandt said. “It is this kind of out of the box thinking that makes the Northwoods Children’s Museum an ideal recipient of our Crimson FORK Award.”

NCM serves families from all backgrounds. There are multiple programs in place to ensure access to the museum for everyone, regardless of income. At the same time, the NCM also works with other community organizations to provide free programs for children and families throughout the year ensuring access and opportunity for the entire community.

To date, many families have utilized the museum’s FORK Pantry, showcasing the ongoing need for nutritional support programs across the community.

Compassionate team members from both organizations — many with past lived experiences similar to the families served — are dedicated to the anonymity and care of families in need. The no-questions-asked policy for the pantry creates a smooth system for getting resources.

“Many involved in this project know how it feels to need these resources, and we don’t want any barriers to families getting the help they need,” added former NCM President Sharon Nielsen. “The result of the museum’s collaboration with FORK represents the very best of our community and we are to be recognized for our effort to help kids.”

Individuals wishing to financially support the FORK Pantry at the Northwoods Children’s Museum can mail a contribution to: FORK Pantry, 4887 Echo Ridge Dr., Eagle River, WI 54521. Donors are asked to add “FORK Pantry” to the memo line.

Individuals wishing to financially support the Northwoods Children’s Museum’s Power of Play campaign to help fund building expansion and renovation can mail a check to: Northwoods Children’s Museum, PO Box 216, Eagle River, WI 54521.

FORK and NCM are both registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. To learn more about FORK’s efforts to support children from food insecure homes, visit feedourruralkids.org. To learn more about Power of Play and other museum offerings, visit northwoodschildrensmuseum.com.