Rally yields donations for area food pantry

Northern Lights Indivisible reported a successful turnout at its North Star Action rally held Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a press release. The biweekly event focused on community needs following a recent decision to withhold SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans.

The rally raised 353 pounds of nonperishable food and $2,000 in donations for the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry.

According to the release, the donation comes at a critical time for the pantry, which serves local families and children through a variety of food security programs.

“Our rallies are built on a simple premise: a better community is one where fundamental rights and needs are met for everyone,” a spokesperson for Northern Lights Indivisible said. “The ‘Plates Go Empty Today’ theme was a powerful reminder of how poverty impacts our neighbors, and the community responded with incredible generosity. This wasn’t just a political protest; it was an act of mutual aid and community strength.”

Northern Lights Indivisible describes itself as a nonpartisan grassroots movement focused on defending the U.S. Constitution and addressing injustice. The group is known locally for its summer protests at Pioneer Park and engages in education, mutual aid and direct action.

According to the release, the food and funds collected will support the pantry’s mission to assist more than 1,850 people each month.

North Star Action rallies are held every other Saturday. The group encourages community members interested in civic engagement and constitutional advocacy to participate.