MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – The Stock the Pantry challenge, a community-driven initiative aimed at addressing the urgent need for food assistance, recently concluded with resounding success. The challenge, which took place from June 12th to June 16th, brought together numerous local businesses and organizations to collect essential items for Soup or Socks, a local food pantry serving families in need. The collaborative effort yielded an impressive total of 3,827 items, greatly benefiting Soup or Socks and making a substantial impact on the community.
The idea for the Stock the Pantry challenge originated when Jessica Lewer, an employee at Marshfield Utilities, stumbled upon an SOS Facebook post revealing near-empty shelves at Soup or Socks after a demanding day of assisting families. Inspired to lend a helping hand, Jessica approached Melissa Barnes, HR Manager at Marshfield Utilities, and together they devised a plan to expand the challenge. Melissa promptly reached out to her HR contacts, urging businesses to participate in the week-long initiative.
The response was overwhelmingly positive, exceeding all expectations. In addition to Marshfield Utilities and Marshfield Insurance, ten other groups enthusiastically joined forces to support the pantry through the Stock the Pantry challenge. The participants mobilized their organizations, engaging employees and creating awareness of the campaign’s purpose and importance. Several creative promotion methods were employed, including the distribution of posters and company-wide emails, as well as social media posts featuring team members to encourage community support.
While all participants are acknowledged as winners for their tremendous impact on the community, the challenge had designated a winner and a last place based on the average number of items collected per person.
Jill Trudeau from Hotel Marshfield, the challenge winner, expressed their promotional efforts within the organization and their commitment to the cause. ” We promoted the campaign within our organization by creating posters for all employee areas. We also did a social media post the week of the campaign with a majority of our team in the picture to encourage our followers to support their local food pantries along with us,” said Trudeau.
When asked what supporting Soup or Socks meant to them, Trudeau emphasized the importance of helping individuals and families access sufficient food, which ultimately contributes to better health outcomes, increased productivity, and improved economic conditions within the community.
Buffy Hasenohrl, Human Resource Manager at H&S Manufacturing, spoke about their promotion strategies and the significance of supporting Soup or Socks. “We promoted the campaign within our organization by sending a companywide e-mail and also posting signs,” said Hasenohrl. “Many people go through hard times, and this is a way we can help support families in need.”
The success of the Stock the Pantry challenge underscores the power of collaboration and the generosity within the community. Through their collective efforts, the participants made a substantial difference in the lives of those who rely on Soup or Socks for vital food assistance.
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Author: News Desk
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