MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) — A record number of donations poured into Marshfield’s Rotary Winter Wonderland in 2020.
Project Chair Danielle Nystrom told WDLB Radio organizers saw a 34-percent increase in food donations and a 60-percent increase in cash contributions over 2019. “I think the community just really came together this year to help each other. And people needed something to do so I think the weather and lack of things to do really helped.”
Nystrom said more than 72-thousand non-perishable food items were distributed to 30 central and northern Wisconsin food pantries, which Nystrom said were reeling from a lack of donations after many of the earlier food drives were canceled due to COVID-19.
“They said that they increased the number of families they served by hundreds this year because of the pandemic. So they were extra grateful that we were able to stock their shelves for a few months.”
St. Vincent DePaul of Marshfield served 400-500 families per month, according to Outreach Director Trisha Hebert. The Soup or Socks Pantry served 25-percent more households in 2020 and delivered 13-hundred emergency food boxes in the spring.
Cash contributions are split evenly between all participating food pantries after final project expenses are paid. Since the holiday light display started in 2006, more than 310-thousand dollars have been donated to hunger relief organizations.
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