Feed Our Rural Kids
Volume 2: November 2020 Edition
Message From FORK President~
In life we are often faced with the uncertainty of the unknown. No one is immune from feelings of uncertainty around what tomorrow will bring our way. During this COVID-19 pandemic, these words are truer than ever.
With that being said, imagine how a child, who goes to bed hungry, feels about the prospects of their tomorrow.
The uncertainty of wondering if there will be food tomorrow, is what food insecurity looks like in the life of a child growing up in a food insecure home. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of a reliable source of sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food.
When FORK was established, the Board of Directors did not know what the organization's tomorrows would bring. We did not know how, or even if, FORK could be part of a solution to the problem of food insecurity in our local communities.
FORK's full story has yet to be written; so tomorrow still poses a veil of uncertainty. Yet, our greatest achievement is that we have seen FORK, as an ideal, manifest itself into a promise of hope for the children. Thanks to the community awareness and support, that veil of uncertainty has begun to be lifted.
As the sun rises on a new day, FORK is still here. We will continue to work to bring certainty to the lives of children around the issue of nutrition.
We can do this ~ We can get there ~ But only with your continued help.
Thank you,
Perry Pokrandt
President of Feed Our Rural Kids, Inc.
FEATURE: We Sailed Into Unchartered Waters
It was at the very first meeting of the FORK Board of Directors that we took that first step in this journey. The crew had signed on for the voyage, even though none of us knew where we were sailing to. Nevertheless, we set sail.
Since that first meeting, FORK has more clearly charted a course forward. Our mission, to provide nutritional support to children from food insecure homes within the Northland Pines School District, provides us a clear and shining "North Star".
Through planning, discussion, and analysis, the steps necessary to ensure that we can successfully feed our rural kids are now clear. Today, FORK focuses on the four course specific steps of action that are necessary to mitigate food insecurity for our local kids.
Step 1: Financial Stability - This measure of success reminds us to continually ask the question, "Can we sustainably fund the projects and ideas that support our mission, in order to keep the promise that is FORK?"
Step 2: Educational Awareness - There are so many layers of information that we hope to share in 2021. We want to explain the help that is available locally and how a family can access that help. We need to tell the story around the issue of food insecurity in our communities and its long-range effects on the children. There is also the need to provide information to families on how to create and stretch budgets, construct menus, and to make healthier nutritional choices for themselves and their kids. Lastly, we will continue to tell the story around the ongoing need of donations so that we can fund nutrition support programs in order to make a difference in the life of a child.
Step 3: Impactful Nutrition Programs - This is the cornerstone accomplishment of the last year. FORK has created four programs that fill gaps in the previous nutrition support efforts of our community. FORK Cares, Meals NOW, Jump Start, and the Formula Support Program.
Step 4: Outreach and Collaboration - "We are better together" is an important belief that shapes how FORK views our role within the community. Therefore, we will strive to work with the other organizations by supporting their programs in a collaborative effort to better support local children.
A LOOK BACK
1. Meals Now: This past Spring, when schools were closed under the Wisconsin's "Safer At Home" order, a response to the corona virus pandemic, Northland Pines School District started to deliver weekday food to registered students. When asked to provide additional support, FORK stepped up to provide 27,000 meals for kids on the weekends.
"The nutritional gap for our students that was filled by FORK was huge. During the toughest of times, FORK provided our kids resources that no other entity within the community could provide." Scott Foster, District Administrator of the Northland Pines School District
2. Mid Summer's NIGHT Ride: The ride is a collaborative event/fundraiser with the Sayner/Star Lake Chamber of Commerce. Although the August 15th ride was cancelled due to COVID-19, the event now has a new date and a new name - "The Ice Cream Ride" August 14, 2021.
More information and a registration can be found online at www.feedourruralkids.org
3. Bret and Frisk and Friends: This virtual concert, recorded at Eagle Waters Resort by Tomasoski Photography and Video, was presented online on Saturday, May 23rd of Memorial Day weekend. It was a huge success bringing in over $30,000.00 in support of FORK nutritional programs. This further earned FORK a $20,000.00 matching grant from Mike McAdams and Margaret Baack of Land O'Lakes, WI. (see photo above) This online concert can still be viewed on YouTube at swandme686. Take a look again or for the first time!
4. Helping Hand: FORK partnered with the Vilas Food Pantry's Helping Hand Program. Boxes of food were funded by FORK for local families and children. The Vilas Food Pantry assembled the boxes and they were delivered by Northland Pines School District Staff to the homes in August. Our goal was to introduce those families to the benefits of the food pantry and provide food security to those children.
"It was collaboration with FORK that made the Pantry's "Helping Hand" program possible this September. Since this program, children from a half dozen more families have taken advantage of support from the Vilas Food Pantry. Thanks FORK!"
Jackie Coghlan, President of the Vilas Food Pantry
5. CashFORKids: FORK's month long planned fundraiser during the summer vacation timeframe was truly unique, as we enlisted the help of all of the Eagle River Financial Institutions with our cause. But the pandemic changed the landscape of childhood food insecurity through an ever-increasing need. In response, FORK expanded the number of beneficiaries of the fundraiser. The $13,000.00 raised was shared by FORK with eight local nutrition programs:
The Weekend Backpack Program, Vilas Food Pantry, FORK Cares, The Locker, The Room, Meals Now, Jump Start, and The Formula Support Program.
Thank you to Nicolet National Bank, BMO Harris, Incredible Bank, Ripco Credit Union, Associated Bank, Peoples State Bank, mBank, and Great North Bank.
6. $5,000.00 Locker Challenge: FORK challenged student athletes from the Northland Pines boys and girls Cross Country Teams to raise $5,000.00 to fund The Locker program. FORK offered to match every dollar raised up to that $5,000.00 mark.
"Members of our team wanted to step up and make a difference for kids by supporting the Locker Program within the Middle and High School. Thanks to FORK's support, our team was able to make a difference for our fellow students who come from food insecure homes."
Natalie Fluegel and Frankie Milanowski - team members
The teams raised $2,685.00 in support of the Locker Program during a two week period in October. This amount was matched by FORK, bringing the grand total to $5,370.00. The community can be proud of their ingenuity and community spirit.
7. Farmers to Families Food Box Distribution: During this challenging time, the USDA made available over $120,000.00 of FREE food to families across Vilas County. FORK, in partnership with the Vilas County Office of Emergency Management, logistically collaborated and delivered the nutritional help needed by so many.
"Thanks to a partnership with FORK, 72,000 pounds of food was distributed to families across Vilas County in October. Thanks Fork for helping to bring this food to Vilas County."
Sherri Congleton, Director of the Vilas County Office of Emergency Management
A special thanks to WRJO Radio and the Vilas County News Review for helping to get the word out all year about FORK and the various events and programs. You have helped add to the success. Thank you!
FORK PHOTO GALLERY
Meals Now Volunteers
Margaret Baack and Mike McAdams Check Presentation
Meals Now Delivery Volunteers
Vilas Food Pantry Helping Hand Program
Vilas Food Pantry Packing Volunteers
Weekend Backpack Program Preparation
Associated Bank CashFORKids donation
"The Gents" CashFORKids Donation
First Donor toward CashFORKids Program
Eagle River Financial Institutions Join Forces for CashForKids
Hillbilly Hollow Soup Walk
Check Distribution from CashFORKids
Northland Pines Cross Country Teams- Locker Challenge
Farmers to Families Food Box Distribution
Trig's Round Up Program
Eagle River Area Rotary donates $5750.00 to Meals NOW
Northwestern Great Lakes Girl Scout Region, along with Colonel Jennifer Pritzker, donated 300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to be put into Meals Now meals.
Trigs donates $3500.00 to FORK
Sayner-Star Lake Lionesses $1,000.00 sponsorship donation for the MidSummer's Night Ride.
Great North Bank's $2,500.00 donation to FORK Cares
A $5,000.00 Emergency Community Support Grant check distribution from Kristine Pokrandt-Blake of Goosehead Insurance
Ripco Credit Union & Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago $5,000.00 Grant
Nicolet National Foundation Grant ~ $1,000.00
Upcoming Ice Cream Ride ~ August 14, 2021
HAPPENING NOW....
"Stepping in where there is a need" is how we envisioned the role of FORK from the beginning. That is why we are heartened by the creation of the Formula Support Program, a collaborative effort with the Vilas County Health Department. This program will be coordinated by Donna Hiller, the program chairperson.
The Formula Support Program will provide supplemental formula to families, registered in the Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) program, who run short of formula prior to benefit renewal at the end of each month.
Families will have their child's specific formula needs met through the following participating businesses: Trig's of Eagle River, Pick and Save of Eagle River, Sentry of St. Germain, Charlie's NW Market of Land O'Lakes, and Walgreens of Eagle River.
SNEAK PEEK
Fundraising awareness will begin in January 2021. If you would like to make a donation, go to FeedOurRuralKids.org/tomorrowskids
If you would like to learn more, please email us at tomorrowskids@FeedOurRuralKids.org.
We are looking forward to a chance to talk with you.
Feed Our Rural Kids ~ FORK Board of Directors/ Board Advisors
Email: info@feedourruralkids.org
Website: www.feedourruralkids.org
Location: 4887 Echo Ridge Dr, Eagle River, WI, USA
Phone: 715-410-8167
Facebook: facebook.com/feedourrualkids
Perry Pokrandt - President
Scott Foster - Vice President
Dan Beihoff - Treasurer
Jackie Coghlan - Secretary
Jessica Allen - Director
Rick Miech - Director
Pastor Andrea Fluegel - Director
Brenda Husing - Board Advisor
Keith Kentala - Board Advisor
Donna Hiller - Board Advisor
- Vilas Food Pantry
- Headwaters Food Pantry
- Northland Pines School District
- Weekend Backpack Program
- The Locker/The Room
- Caritas
Feed Our Rural Kids Help Brochure
info@feedourruralkids.org with your request. If you received this email but would like to change email addresses, please let us know at the above email. Thank you.