Yule Feed Families Impact on Local Food Pantries

Yule Feed Families has benefited Hartland Area Food Pantry greatly. We had very little when we first opened our door. The most wanted item was toilet paper, so with the money from the drive we were able to supply toilet paper to every family. When more money came in, we were able to buy laundry detergent, as it was the next most-needed item. You can’t buy these items with food stamps. What I always say is the more you give, the more we can give. Because of the generous givers we are able to give so much.

~Joy Vilter, Director – Hartland Area Food Pantry

What a great milestone to reach with Yule Feed Families! We are serving approximately 47 families each month at the Kettle Moraine Food Pantry. The donations we receive go directly to those families in the form of dry goods, dairy, produce, fruit, and meat. Families also receive laundry and dish detergent and a small amount of paper products such as toilet paper and paper toweling. Our clients appreciate the variety of basic food items they receive and your donation each year plays a significant role in making this happen.

~Jolene Van Den Elzen, Kettle Moraine Food Pantry Director

I can’t begin to tell you the positive impact that the Yule Feed Families Drive has had on the St Charles St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, located in the downtown Hartland area.  The generosity of the local community, both the businesses and individual donors, has been outstanding.  Your donations have enabled us to continue our mission of charity to our neighbors in the community and provide needed items that would not otherwise have been available to us.  We are so thankful for the Lake Country Rotary’s donations and for their continued support of our pantry and all the other pantries in the area.  We hope that our partnership with the Lake Country Rotary will continue for many more years to come.  Your generosity continues to brighten the lives of our neighbors during the holiday season and all year long.

May God Bess you and all the members of the Lake Country Rotary

~Barb Howland, Director – St. Charles/St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry

Over the years, Yule Feed Families has provided for the Pewaukee Food Pantry with the security of knowing that funding would be available to purchase food and other supplies necessary to assist our families. The monies donated allow the pantry to purchase fresh meat, butter, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies throughout the year. Yule Feed Families is and always has been a wonderful holiday season fundraiser that benefits those in the Pewaukee community needing assistance.

~Laura Bradin and Judy Litvin, Coordinators –  Pewaukee Food Pantry

Our fiscal year ended on September 30, 2024. The SVDP North Lake Conference recorded 14,296 items of donated food. The St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, CCD and Vacation Bible Program, area food drives, and other individual and area Church donations are the primary donors of these items. Weekly pickups of food by Vincentians from local businesses provide the pantry patrons with additional healthy food choices. A team of Vincentians also shop for meats, cheese, eggs, essential household supplies and fast-moving shelf items and of course the seasonal baskets. Financial support is provided by many charitable organizations, where the funds are used by purchase food, and assist those that come to us financial support, especially during tough moments in their lives.

Our Conference logged 6,822 hours of service and 32,393 miles helping 4,602 people. We enlisted 71 volunteer hours of assistance from non-Vincentian. Should we have too much of an item, we have volunteers to deliver items to other local food pantries. Our Conference also participates in the Hope Center Meal Program, Summer Lunch, school supply initiatives

organized by the Waukesha Council, Coming Together to Get Ahead (CTGA). Funeral luncheons, Home Visits, Communion Visits, compassionate correspondence are a few of the other activities that keep us busy. It is part of our Society Rules that in our assistance to the poor, neglected and troubled we come to value all humanity in a Christ-like manner.

Be assured that your donations have made a difference in the lives of those we were honored to serve on your behalf.

~Don Kerber, President – SVDP-North Lake Food Pantry