A Reedsburg food pantry received a surprise boost just in time for Thanksgiving.
United HealthCare donated around 300 turkey breasts to Catholic Charities’ Mobile Food Pantry. Employees from the health insurer were on site to hand out turkeys to those in need on Nov. 15.
The company has a new plan in Sauk County so it wanted to do something special as a gesture of goodwill, said Rhonda Grabko, community and provider engagement specialist with the Wisconsin Health Plan, part of United HealthCare. She said United HealthCare partnered with Second Harvest to determine regional necessities and found that there’s a gap in offering holiday turkeys.
She said United HealthCare chose 8-pound turkey breasts because they are healthier and easier to prepare than a whole turkey. Many pantry users are elderly, single or couples who don’t need a large bird.
Reedsburg was an ideal location, she noted, because it’s centralized in Sauk County. The pantry, organized locally through Sacred Heart Church, serves people from numerous areas so it made sense to work with the organization.
The pantry normally provides food once a month January through October, said co-coordinator Mary Williams. This year they are trying something new, holding the pantry in November and December.
The pantry saw a need so decided to expand, said other co-coordinator Sue Kaczmarowski. The Reedsburg VFW has offered space for volunteers to distribute food.
She said the pantry is supported financially through Catholic Charities, which works with Second Harvest. It serves around 230 families each month and gives around 13,000 pounds of food on average.
Williams said the pantry doesn’t set any income requirements so it attracts people from as far away as Mauston and Hill Point. Anyone who’s struggling to buy groceries is welcome.
She added that the pantry wouldn’t be possible without volunteers who come not only from Sacred Heart but also the broader community. The pantry has between 40 and 45 volunteers per month.
