Community Spotlight: Food Pantry of Waukesha County

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As most of us are starting our preparations for Thanksgiving, we at Shorewest want to take the time and promote one of the many causes that are close to our hearts.

The Food Pantry of Waukesha County’s goal is to advocate increasing awareness of hunger in the community and promoting collaborative action to provide food to those who need it. The Food Pantry of Waukesha County is affiliated with 71 different agencies, including food pantries, meal programs, shelters, etc.

There are numerous ways to support the Food Pantry, and most of them can be done in your everyday life. Here are a list of 30 easy and clever ways to raise donations in your home, office, community and social circle.

1. Coordinate a fundraiser, like a bake sale, rummage sale, car wash, book reading, seasonal activity or concert and donate the proceeds.

1. Refrain from your favorite indulgence (like your daily coffee!) for a week and donate the amount you saved.

1.  “Brown-bag it” with your co-workers and donate whatever your take-out lunches would have cost.

1. Host a potluck dinner and charge a small rate to participate and eat.

1. Consider a corporate match to any fundraising effort coordinated by employees.

1. Offer a discount on a service you provide (hair stylists, tax service, snowplowing, oil change, etc.) for a donation to the Food Pantry.

1. Award Casual Dress Days to employees participating in your company’s donation drive.

1.  Coordinate a weekly or monthly food drive at your work, school or congregation that focuses on a single item.

1. Distribute paper or plastic bags to employees/co-workers on Monday for them to take home, fill and return by Friday.

1. Collect spare change by placing a container in your cafeteria or front office.

1.  Encourage healthy competition between classrooms, departments, divisions, etc. to raise the most food or funds.

1. Hold a raffle or auction and donate the proceeds to the Food Pantry.

1.  Give a “Free Will Offering” by foregoing some leisure and donate the money saved to the Food Pantry.

1. Coordinate a food and/or cash drive in your neighborhood or subdivision.

1. Collect personal care products for those who live without these basic products.

1. Collect baby food, formula, diapers and baby care products for those who can’t afford them.

1. Collect gift cards for grocery stores.

1. Organize a “Super Lunch” fundraiser in your neighborhood, congregation, office or community group.

1. Reduce the price of admission with a food donation. (Partner with an event!)

1. Start a Penny War by placing large, identical containers in different classrooms/departments and race to fill the jars with coins and bills.

1. Honor/Memorialize someone you care about by making a donation in their name.

1. Donate the cost of your usual holiday cards and send a simple postcard instead.

1. Coordinate a “Just Desserts” fundraiser and invite your friends.

1. Coordinate a “White Elephant” gift exchange using only re-gifted items.

1. Make the Food Pantry a beneficiary in your will.

1.  Donate the assets from a gift exchange to the Food Pantry.

1.  Turn any special gathering into a food drive by asking guests to bring non-perishable food items.

1.  Donate food at your local grocery store.

1. Donate 10% of the winnings for your weekly card game.

1.  Arrange an automatic monthly donation from your checking account to the Food Pantry.

For more information on the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, and how you can get involved, click here.

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Categories: Community