Donate to Yule Feed Families
News of how many people in your community live in poverty might have come as a shock in this week's Focus. If you missed it, take the opportunity to read our stories online at LivingLakeCountry.com. It will give you a lot to be thankful forL a job, a roof over your head, money for groceries each week.
The number of Oconomowoc residents living in poverty rose from 190 people to 414 after reports from the 2010 census. The need for food pantries has increased substantially in last five years. Bill Jackson of the Oconomowoc Food Pantry said it continues to average more than 300 families a month, or 1,000 people. And for the next two months the pantry typically sees the highest increase in those seeking help -jumping to as many as 400 families. Jackson said that each year, the pantry sees 6 percent more people seeking assistance.
The statistics the local pantries and county agencies provided showing how many are in need today can make things seem bleak - or it can serve as an inspiration. That's what we hope it will do. The Oconomowoc Focus is helping you help others again this year with its annual Yule Feed Families food drive. Starting today, you can send money to the newspaper office, drop off donations of food or money at the office, or leave donations at the Waukesha State Bank branch on Summit Avenue.
The Focus will match each dollar donated by 70 cents, and we'll match each food item given with 40 cents, up to a $500 cap. But we hope the giving goes beyond that. Last year's drive netted around $5,000 to benefit the Oconomowoc Area Food Pantry. While that number is great, we know the pantry could use a lot more to help those in need.
So start your holiday season off right by thinking of others shouldering struggles for basic things we so often take for granted. You can send donations or drop them off at the Lake Country Publications office at 810 Cardinal Lane, Suite 210 (on the second floor), Hartland, WI, 53029 during regular business hours (we are closed Friday, Nov. 23). Or you can stop by Waukesha State Bank, 1227 Corporate Center Drive, where there will be a donation bin; tellers are able to assist in taking a monetary donation.
The drive ends at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20.
Please help make this year's drive an even bigger success than last year's. The need isn't going away.
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