United is the way we create hope.
Based on September's FoodShare report, 20% of households across Shawano and Menominee Counties are set to lose food assistance this next month. This is about 6,900 of our neighbors. Allotments in September alone totaled a little over $1.1 Million. No one organization could take up this mantle alone.
But we're not alone. We stand united. On October 31st, the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department and United Way hosted a first of its kind meeting since the early days of the COVID Pandemic. Representatives from Shawano Area Matthew 25, Safe Haven of Shawano County, Shawano Schools, Tigerton Food Pantry, Safparc, Shepherd's Watch Community Center Food Pantry, Divine Savior Lutheran Church, Shawano, WI - WELS Food Pantry, Bonduel Community Food Pantry, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, and St. Michael's Food Pantry Keshena gathered together to discuss the expected upticks in their attendance to meet this need for our local communities.
Great discussions were had, and more info will come out next week about ideas generated. In the meantime, if you are in need of directions for where to go because you are affected by the FoodShare pause, please call 211 or visit our website at https://www.shawanocountyunitedway.org/find-help-resource... for a list of food pantries across our service area and their hours of operation.
United we stand.
United we will feed our neighbors.
United we will take care of each other.
United is the way.