Focus Yule Feed food drive ends on high note

Posted: Dec. 26, 2012

Angels really do exist. After we sent out a plea to help make our 2012 Yule Feed Families food drive a success , a miracle happened. The Focus received a $10,000 donation from a local family that asked to remain anonymous. The family graciously said they would like the donation to go toward the Oconomowoc Food Pantry's ongoing operating expenses.

Our 2012 Yule Feed drive sat at a little over $2,000 at this time last week, a far cry from the $5,000 we achieved last year. So we sent out a plea on behalf of the food pantry that continues to help increasing numbers in need, and it was answered. Our hearts are overflowing with the holiday spirit felt this past week.

Along with the anonymous $10,000 donation, we also received $680 more in anonymous donations from a group of individuals. And it didn't stop there - we also received donations from Thomas Schneider, Dennis and Jean Krause, Richard and Floss Whalen and the Jon Lestina Co., totaling another $255. Every bit of it will go to help the Oconomowoc Area Food Pantry whose need does not go away after the holiday season . The Yule Feed Families food drive sets out each year to help inspire others to donate to the pantry by matching 70 cents per dollar donated and 40 cents per food item donated up to a $500 cap. We always seek to beat last year's total, and this year, we did. The grand total for the 2012 drive is $15,528 and 149 food items.

We were not able to reach anyone from the pantry to comment on the exciting news before press time, but we know they will be thrilled to receive your generous donations. In November, Lake Country Publications helped paint a picture of the local poverty that many said they were surprised to see. It was reported that 20,894 Waukesha County residents are living in poverty according to the 2010 census compared to the 9,635 reported living in poverty in 2000.

Oconomowoc Food Pantry organizer Bill Jackson said the pantry serves an average of more than 300 families each month which equates to more than 1,000 individuals. Jackson said November and December are the months of the highest need. He said local families seeking assistance has increased by about 6 percent every year. Unfortunately, Jackson continues to report that numbers are on the rise at the pantry. In early December, he said the pantry served 375 families - the highest number the pantry saw all year.

Thank you for caring about your community and answering our call for help. With these donations, the pantry is off to a good start helping your neighbors in need.