March 2, 2023 at 8:55 a.m.
Family Food Helpline more valuable than ever
"The question now is where do these families turn?" offered Feed Our Rural Kids President Perry Pokrandt. "A good starting point would be for them to call the Family Food Helpline at 887-479-FORK (3675)."
"The Family Food Helpline is a partnership between the Vilas and Oneida County Departments of Social Services and FORK," explained Oneida County Department of Social Services Director Mary Rideout.
The Helpline, a 'go-to' source of information related to available food support programming, first went live on Nov. 1, 2022. The move was in anticipation of the moment when enhanced benefits would end.
Rideout continued. "The writing was on the wall that this day was going to come. Now, with the support of FORK local families have a place to turn."
In recent months, an average of approximately $80 million has been distributed monthly to help almost 400,000 households across our state struggling to afford food. February 2023 was the last month families will receive the extra benefits.
"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that funds FoodShare is a crucial federal support to individuals and families, particularly in times like these when higher food prices (up 11% this year) are straining everyone's budgets, but especially those of our most vulnerable," said Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge.
"We are ready to help," said Vilas County Department of Social Services Director Kate Gardner. "Fewer people will now qualify for even smaller amounts of aid through the state, making our local food support programs from organizations like Feed Our Rural Kids, and others more valuable than ever."
Individuals can support the Family Food Helpline, and thus food insecure families with an online donation at FeedOurRuralKids.org/Donate.
Donations can be mailed to Family Food Helpline at 4887 Echo Ridge Drive Eagle River, WI 54521
FORK is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
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