ThedaCare employees in New London collected more than 2,200 food items during a month-long food drive held for the New London Community Cupboard.
“Because of this type of support, children and families right here in our community will have access to food through the New London Community Cupboard,” said food drive coordinator Mary Mathewson, nutrition services supervisor at New London Family Medical Center (NLFMC). “The food drive was a great success because we were able to reach within and extend our hand to those in need.”
Employees from NLFMC, ThedaCare Physicians-New London and the Wolf River Area Healthcare Foundation all chipped in by donating food items throughout May. This is the fourth year the workers have participated in a food drive. Employees more than doubled their contributions this year, bringing in a total of 2,258 non-perishable food items.
“We really appreciate all the food they brought in,” said Kim Ebert, director of the Community Cupboard. “The need in the community has increased significantly while donations are going down, so this donation was a tremendous help.”
Between 2005 and 2010, the number of those seeking help from the food pantry has doubled, Ebert added. And last month, the food pantry set a new record, serving the highest number of families in a given month. The food pantry is now serving up to 45 people per week.
ThedaCare’s various divisions in New London competed against each other to see which could collect the most food. “The physicians’ clinic did an outstanding job and contributed a little over half of the items,” Mathewson said.
Clinic employees averaged about 16 food items per person and were named the “large department” winner. The hospital and foundation administrative employees, meanwhile, donated an average of 30 items per person, and were named the “small department” winner, Mathewson added.