WAFER Food Pantry hosts pop-up event in La Crosse
LA CROSSE (WKBT) — The La Crosse WAFER Food Pantry offered a one-time pop-up distribution to all members of the public Saturday.
The event ran from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
WAFER’s workers and volunteers directed the copious amount of traffic using a drive-thru distribution style.
Food was distributed on a first come, first serve basis and no registration was required to participate.
A large variety of fresh foods and non-perishable items were available for those in attendance.
Items such as onions, apples, lettuce, muffins, breads, snacks, beverages, and more were offered.
WAFER Mobile Pantry Manager Tony Meyers says the pop-up food drive was organized as a means to quickly and effectively give away the influx of donations they received over the holidays.
“We have all kinds of donations right now, so we’re able to offer it up to the public,” Meyers said. “We’re able to talk to a lot of different people and see if they qualify to come on a regular basis.”
Meyers says this event is also helping with WAFER’s community outreach and networking.
Initially hoping for 200 cars total, Meyers was pleasantly surprised by the line of cars that went on for over four blocks.
“I was out with the Mobile Pantry all week and a lot of people said they were going to be coming to this. A lot of people I’ve seen [come through] today I’ve never seen at WAFER before,” Meyers continued, “and they’re going to tell their friends, relatives, and neighbors about it too.”
WAFER has been helping 300-400 more families each month than they had been in previous years. The number of households that request assistance each month has increased by a third. The pantry serves the greater La Crosse area including households in Bangor, Rockland, Holmen, Onalaska, Mindoro, West Salem and La Crescent.
The WAFER Food Pantry offers similar drive-thru distributions on the fourth Saturday of every month for all those who qualify financially; the pantry also hosts a number of different pop-up events through La Crosse County throughout the year.
For more information visit WAFER’s website.
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