There's Still Time to Support the HCFS Stock the Shelves Match Challenge

The Hayward Community Food Shelf (HCFS) is currently running its annual fundraiser. It’s called the 2023 HCFS STOCK THE SHELVES MATCH CHALLENGE and if you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time. It started on July 1st and runs through August 31st. The more funds we can raise, the more food we can distribute to food insecure families in our community. All donations will help meet this goal.

Thanks to many businesses, organizations and individuals, HCFS has been able to help thousands of hungry families in this community for more than 37 years and hopes to continue this practice for many more. The Shelf, as it’s commonly called, serves all residents of Sawyer County as well as those in the collar communities of Cable and Springbrook plus all residents of Birchwood and Stone Lake. The only requirement to receive food is to ask for it. HCFS is operated solely by volunteers, is funded completely by donations and is a 501(c)3 organization. Families receive a very generous 3-day supply of well-balanced meal ingredients once each month. If a family meets certain financial criteria, it can also receive food from TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) donated to HCFS by Indianhead Community Action Agency. We hope you can help keep the shelves filled so we continue to help those in need.

Sawyer County continues to experience some of the highest poverty levels in the state. According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 people living in Sawyer County is food insecure. That means there are over 2,500 people in our county without enough food in their pantries or on their tables. Approximately 50% of those who need food assistance are children and seniors.

HCFS has already distributed well over 200,000 pounds of food this year through its general family and Food 4 Kids programs. HCFS wants to continue helping those in need of food. HCFS belongs to the national food assistance network. Feed My People (FMP) is the closest link to the network. FMP is located in Eau Claire and partners with Second Harvest Heartland and Feeding America to fight hunger in northwest Wisconsin. FMP serves 14 counties in west central Wisconsin, including Sawyer. 1 in 8 people living in these counties is food insecure. That’s over 60,000 people who need food assistance in the west central counties of Wisconsin.

HCFS purchases as much food as possible locally but also obtains food from FMP. HCFS can make your donated dollars go further than you think. For example, ground turkey through FMP is only $2.31 per pound, a can of tomato soup is 74₵ and a can of baked beans is 70₵. Dollars raised during this fundraiser are critical to keep HCFS open, shelves adequately stocked and our cooler/freezer full to help those in need throughout the year.

This is your opportunity to help those in need of food assistance in Sawyer County and nearby communities. Please help today, if you can. Simply write your check to the Hayward Community Food Shelf and mail it to PO Box 779, Hayward, WI 54843. To make a fee-free credit card donation, please go through the HCFS website (www.haywardfoodshelf.net). Your immediate action will be greatly appreciated.

If you have questions, would like more information or a tour, please contact HCFS at 715-634-HCFS (4237) or by email at hcfs@centurytel.net. HCFS is located at 16216W Highway 63S in Hayward.

Thank you for your support!