The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry is again asking for the public to respond as it has in past years to its Spring Challenge.
Pantry spokesperson Bill Vancos says the challenge began several years ago from the Feinstein Foundation, which offered $1 million to food pantries to compete for matching money.
Vancos says the Feinstein challenge ended so they looked locally...
"Based on the amount of contributions you got in the months of March and April, then you would get a payout from that. They would split up that million dollars among a number of food pantries. That ended a couple of years back, but it had been fairly successful for the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry for a donor locally that might be willing to take the place..."
Vancos says two people stepped forward to replace the annual Feinstein donation...
"In the last three years we probably averaging close to $100,000 of contributions in this two-month period. Food is valued at a dollar a can for an average price then the money that comes in. So the combination of all the food valued at a dollar a can plus the financial donations in those two months..."
The challenge is set for this year from March 1 through April 30. Vancos says the annual Spring Challenge helps bring attention to the continuous needs of the Food Pantry. Food items used for voting in the current CANtastic event at Rouman Cinema will also count towards this challenge.
He says monetary donations can be made to Rhinelander Area Food Pantry care of BMO Harris Bank, in Rhinelander. Food items may be dropped off at the Food Pantry on Coon Street from 9 am to noon, Monday through Friday.
