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Two Northwoods Non-Profits Focused on Food Insecurity & Mental Health Team Up for Fundraiser

The physical effects of going hungry are more apparent to the eye.  A poor diet can lead to obesity, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Food insecurity has also been shown to lead to mental illness. Several studies have shown people who can’t get reliable access to food are at higher risk for depression, stress, and anxiety.

That’s why two Northwoods non-profits say it makes perfect sense for them to team up for a fundraiser.

Feed Our Rural Kids and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Northern Lakes chapter are teaming up for the Concert for the Kids next month.

“We hope that we can have a successful event. What we mean by successful event in this case is that we raise lots of money to support our mission, but also that people will stick with the whole concert and learn more about these issues because public education is really key to making things better for families who are affected by mental illness in our area and families who are also operating in our area without enough food,” said Mick Fiocchi, NAMI Northern Lakes Executive Director.

FORK is focused on providing nutritional support to children in food insecure homes in eastern and central Vilas County.

NAMI provides support for people with mental illnesses as well as educating people.

“During this whole year none of the members of the Northern Lake Center have been hospitalized for a mental health crisis. That’s the power of peer support,” said Fiocchi.

Concert for the Kids is Saturday, June 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The virtual event will feature local artists including Brett and Frisk, Big Road, and Scott Kirby. It will also serve to educate people on the issues facing people in our communities.

“Interspersed between the musical segments will be short video stories talking about the issues of food scarcity and mental illness in our own area. This is all about the service areas of FORK and NAMI Northern Lakes. So we’re talking about local people impacted and whose lives our being deeply affected by these two issues,” said Fiocchi.

You can find the link to the concert and make a donation on FORK’s website

Katie Thoresen is WXPR's News Director/Vice President.
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