Nekoosa School District launches food pantry to combat food insecurity

NEKOOSA – The Nekoosa School District has launched its new Food Pantry initiative, aimed at addressing food insecurity among children and families in the community. This initiative is part of the broader effort supported by the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) grant awarded to Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Health Advancement (CCHA).
The WPP grant, is dedicated to improving food security for children and families in rural northern Wisconsin. The grant supports the Feeding the Whole Child, Whole Family, and Whole Community through Civic Engagement initiative, which focuses on the four pillars of food security: availability, access, knowledge, and stability of diet.
The Food Pantry has already seen significant community engagement. Through a food drive feud between middle school grades, the club has collected approximately 470 items in donations. A similar food drive feud at the high school also collected items for the pantry. The club is also exploring innovative ways to maintain a steady flow of donations to ensure the pantry remains well-stocked.
The Nekoosa School District Food Pantry offers free monthly food packages for families to pick up at the club’s location. These packages include resource guides, recipes, and a list of upcoming events in the Nekoosa and surrounding areas to keep families engaged in their communities. The club is also working on providing delivery services for families who lack transportation access.
Families interested in receiving food packages can fill out an application, after which a program representative will contact them to confirm their information and schedule a pick-up or delivery. While the club is still determining how many families it can consistently serve, any additional families will be placed on a waitlist until they can be accommodated.
The Nekoosa School District is committed to combating food insecurity and supporting the health and well-being of children and families in the community. The club will continue to expand its efforts and looks forward to sharing more updates as the Food Pantry grows.
For more information about the Nekoosa School District Food Pantry or to make a donation, please contact Nikki Stearns at Nikki_Stearns@Nekoosa.k12.wi.us.