WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — An annual event to help local food pantries in Central Wisconsin returns to a virtual format for a second year.
The United Way of Marathon County has opened pre-registration for its United We CAN Community Food Drive. In the past, the event was called Community Fest and raised money and donations for local food pantries. But due to COVID-19, the event has become a virtual food drive to help the Marathon County Hunger Coalition the past two years.
There are several different ways people can participate in the community food drive either individually or as a group. United Way of Marathon County Director of Communications Sarah Olafson explains the ways people can help. “This is an opportunity for anyone in the community, whether you are a business, an organization, a church group, a neighborhood, or just a family. If you want to do a food drive to benefit the community this is a great opportunity.
“United Way is facilitating this as well in helping people who want to do food drives. We can purchase the food for you if you would like us to. We’ll drop it off at your location. And then one of the fun spins on this is people can build a can creation, a can sculpture.”
Olafson says the sky’s the limit for this year’s can sculpture creations as there are no specific categories or themes to follow. But if you don’t want to create a can sculpture, Olafson there are other ways to participate in the food drive. “This is a great opportunity for just anyone to do a food drive. And the only thing we’re asking for is that they’re non-perishable items but they are shelf-stable. And our website has a great poster and resources too for the best available foods to donate.”
Once the food drive and sculpture portion of the event are over, Olafson says the United Way will pick up the food raised by local groups. The United Way will then deliver those non-perishable food items to food pantries in Marathon County through the Hunger Coalition.
Registration for teams for the United We Can Food Drive does close on August 31st despite can building beginning on September 18th. Olafson says that deadline is to help food pantries getting the items to know how much food and what type of food will be coming in to their stores.
Registration is available now at the United Way of Marathon County’s website along with other food drive-related materials.
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