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Food shelf has successful year
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Leatrice Lindblad, of Chetek, (right) stopped in at the Chetek Food Shelf Monday to give a donation, which she tries to do every year. She said she chose this time of year because the Buckets for Hunger program will match a percentage of the donations.
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The numbers are in for the Chetek Food Shelf's year, which ran from Sept. 30, 2008, to Oct. 1, 2009, and the year has been deemed a success.
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The Chetek Food Shelf feeds people from New Auburn and Chetek, and this year, they fed 4,987 people, which is up from the 4,269 people fed last year.
Last year, 85,233 pounds of food were given out, but this year the pantry gave 139,449 pounds of food to those in need.
"People have been so generous," said Louise Driver, the Chetek Food Shelf director. "The more demand we have, the more food that comes in."
The food shelf gets food from donations, area organizations, government programs, the bags for sale at Kirkwood's and through Feed My People in Eau Claire.
Fresh produce from local gardens was available this year, said Driver. It was a huge success. "People really enjoyed the produce, and the gardeners seemed happy to be sharing."
Although a common belief is that people who use a pantry keep going back, the Chetek Food Shelf limits visits to every 30 days unless there are special circumstances. This year, 135 (42 percent) of visitors used the food shelf one, two or three times; 68 (21 percent) visited four, five or six times; 51 (15 percent) visited seven, eight or nine times; and 66 (21 percent) visited 10, 11 or 12 times for a total of 320 people helped.
There were more people who visited 10, 11 or 12 times in 2009 than 2008 (28 people for 10 percent of the visitors), but Driver feels this is due to the economy more than anything.
Even with a greater demand, Driver said getting enough food was no problem.
"I am so proud and grateful to live in a community that so graciously helps others," she said.
The food shelf has the opportunity to get matching funds again this year from the Buckets for Hunger program, which raises money from things or people associated with sports, explained Driver.
The program will match the food shelf's fundraising efforts, allowing the Chetek pantry to get up to $5,000 plus their original donations. Last year, the food shelf received $3,000 in matched funds.
"If you are planning to give to the Chetek Food Shelf, please consider doing it through this program," said Driver.
The program only goes through Nov. 20, so there is limited time left. Donations for the food shelf through Buckets for Hunger can be made payable to Buckets for Hunger with Chetek Food Shelf in the memo section. Checks can be mailed to Wendy Folkers Ameriprise Financial, 1740 Brackett Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 or to the food shelf at P.O. Box 524, Chetek. Donations must be mailed by Nov. 20.
Questions can be directed to Driver at 924-4795.
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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