September 29, 2021 – As the WSOY Food Drive approaches its 20th year of serving the community, those who participate in receiving and utilizing the funds look forward to another exciting year of success.
Food pantries across the area apply for grants to receive funding from the drive to accommodate their clients. For the past 19 years, those who are able to participate have seen a great impact.
Allison Raiha, director of nutrition and wellness services at Crossing Healthcare, said, “So many of our patients go to our food pantries to help supplement the food in their household.”
Crossing Healthcare has started a garden to help support those that are in need of supplements to survive any illnesses or any other issues. “We harvest over 2000 pounds of produce every year from our garden alone, but it is not enough,” Raiha said. The program called “Crossing Prescription Garden” is supported by the Food Drive. Raiha said, “It has impacted our program greatly! Our patients have been shown to be healthier because of it. It really helps the resource component of it.”
Karen Wilson, Director at Blue Mound Food Pantry, has found other issues when it comes to having enough supplies. She said, “There are no grocery stores in any of these communities to donate food items to us like the larger communities surrounding us.”
Blue Mound as well as other food pantries in the area seek appropriate supplies to distribute enough food to those in the community. The problem seems to always be receiving enough to give back. That is where the food drive plays a role.
Raiha said, “The people who started the [food drive], their true goal is to see a need and fill that need. This community understands what everyone is trying to do, and we all just work together. The food drive is a huge example of that.”
For the food pantries, Wilson said, “We receive very generous cash donations which were used to purchase food, household cleaning supplies, and personal grooming items. These clients are very appreciative of the food they receive, and they tell us about it frequently.”
Raiha added, “for our patients, they need to really think about how they are going to use those resources and not take so much risk. With a program such as the [food drive], that risk is decreased because they are then able to use those resources and have fresh produce through the week.”
Local food pantries have grown over the past 19 years, and the goal seems clear to those participating.
“This gets healthy food to the families. The food drive has allowed us the opportunity to expand our program and the opportunity to be able to support the community in different ways,” Raiha said.
Decatur has held this event for the past 19 years, and community members seem to be just as active in spreading the word as ever.
Raiha said, “We are able to work together as organizations through the WSOY food drive so that we can provide food to our community members that are in need throughout the year.”
Although the companies involved may not be found nationwide, the sense of community here drives the donations and aid that allow these food pantries to keep families together.
Raiha said, “Our mission is our people and not ourselves; [through the WSOY Community Food Drive], bridges are built, not walls.”
For more information on the Food Drive, click here.
