Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) As the winner of the $200 pizza party drawing held by Rotary Winter Wonderland, Festival Foods is paying it forward by donating the prize to Ronald McDonald House in Marshfield.
During the 14th annual Rotary Winter Wonderland, project leaders challenged area businesses and organizations to hold individual food drives as a way to keep up donations during a shorter-than-average season. For every 50 items collected, an entry was placed into a drawing for Scotty’s Pizza.
The successful drive collected 10,000 items, bringing the final tally to 55,000 to surpass the project goal.
“I think everybody in the community coming together, to me that’s why I moved to Marshfield and that’s what I love about this town,” said Store Director Marty Chy, Festival Foods. “I think it’s amazing how the community really comes together to fill the need.”
The pizza party will be enjoyed by the families currently residing at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides families of seriously ill or injured children a place to stay during treatment at little to no cost.
“We are so grateful for donations like that from Festival Foods, which allows our families to enjoy a moment of normalcy in a chaotic situation,” said Iilee Pederson, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House. “The generous donation of a house pizza party will not only allow our families to spend time together but also with other guests, providing an environment that will organically create a support network of familiar faces when families need it most.”
“Our team felt really good about playing it forward. I know much effort all of the organizations in town put in to do that drive,” said Chy. “We’re paying it forward with that spirit in mind and thank everyone in the community for what they’ve done to help put food in the pantry for those in need.”
In addition to providing stability for families, the Ronald McDonald House also launched the Hospitality a la Carte program to provide free supplies to families spending long hours at the hospital. Volunteers travel with the cart through the hallways of Pediatrics, PICU, NICU and OB at the Marshfield Children’s Hospital.
Donations of personal care items, healthy snacks, as well as books, toys, wireless ear buds, mobile chargers, bottled water and more are needed to stock the cart.
“All the things they do to take the pressure off, it just means so much and we’re happy to be a part of it, even just to shine a light on what they do,” said Chy.
To learn more about Ronald McDonald House or to support the families and Hospitality Cart program, visit rmhc-marshfield.org.
Rotary Winter Wonderland Surpasses Goals Despite Shorter Season
Author: News Desk
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