FOCUS Food Pantry feeds 500 Wood County families with support from Wisconsin cranberries

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – FOCUS (Focus on Strengthening Wisconsin Communities) distributed 500 full holiday meal baskets to households of pre-registered clients across its service area on Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This annual event is part of FOCUS’ broader mission to ensure local families have access to essential resources, especially during a season when demand is at its highest.
“Knowing that families will be able to sit down to a holiday meal brings a sense of dignity and comfort during a very challenging time for many in our community,” said Jen Concklin, FOCUS Operations Manager. “This distribution reflects what we strive for every day, neighbors supporting neighbors, and we’re grateful for the partners who help make that possible.”
In addition to the Christmas meal distribution, FOCUS continues to operate its food pantry, daily meal program and the backpack program that provides food support for local students, programs that many families rely on to help stretch limited budgets, noted Concklin.
This year’s baskets include fresh cranberries donated by Wisconsin growers. Suzanne Arendt of RedForest Crop Consulting, LLC and Arendt Cranberry Co. collaborated with the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, Habelman Brother’s Cranberry, Walker Cranberry Co. and Wisconsin River Cranberry to supply more than 600 bags of fresh fruit for the holiday meals.
Wood County is at the heart of Wisconsin’s cranberry industry. In 2024, the county led the state’s production with 6,750 acres harvested and 1,881,277 barrels produced, accounting for approximately 30.8% of Wisconsin’s total cranberry crop. The donation underscores how local agriculture can directly support local families.

About FOCUS

FOCUS provides food, resources and year-round assistance to families across Wood County through its food pantry, daily meal program, student backpack program and seasonal meal distributions. FOCUS relies on community partnerships and local support to continue offering critical services year-round. Residents and organizations who wish to help sustain these programs, whether through donations, volunteer efforts or other contributions, are encouraged to connect with FOCUS to learn more about ways to get involved: www.focusofswc.org/contact/.

About Wisconsin Cranberries

Cranberries are Wisconsin’s official state fruit and the state’s largest fruit crop. Wisconsin produces more than two-thirds of the nation’s cranberry supply each year, supported by generations of growers committed to sustainable farming and stewardship of the land. The cranberry industry plays a significant role in the state’s agricultural economy and in the communities where growers live and work.