Anything & Everything

JEFFERSON, Wis. – As the holidays approach, the Jefferson community is proving once again that compassion remains one of its strongest resources. With food insecurity rising across Wisconsin, local schools, families, and organizations are stepping up to support the Jefferson Community Food Pantry, a service that has become essential for hundreds of residents. 

Jefferson schools played a significant role in stocking the pantry’s shelves this fall. West Elementary and East Elementary collected hundreds of pounds of food through student-led drives. During the Halloween celebrations at West Elementary, staff led a food drive. In addition to this, East Elementary led a thanksgiving food drive. According to Jefferson Pantry Director Mary Jo Shackelford, donations from partner organizations vary widely throughout the year, sometimes reaching 4,000 pounds a week and other times dropping closer to 1,000. Community contributions help keep the pantry’s shelves full for the families who rely on them. 

“We probably see about 100 families a week, that’s close to 300 individuals, and each person leaves with roughly 30 pounds of food.” Shackelford said. “When you do the math, that’s nearly 9,000 pounds of food per week. Without local donations, our shelves would be bare.” 

Community efforts have brought in about 2,000 pounds of food. Local businesses, classrooms and organizations continue to contribute through donation bins, and an online donor portal and collection jars placed at more than 100 locations supported by the pantry’s financial campaign. 

There has been a large surge in community engagement during the federal SNAP disruption and government shutdown earlier this year, when many families suddenly found themselves without essential benefits. 

“People realized really quickly that if the safety net disappeared, neighbors right here in Jefferson would struggle,” volunteer Becky Adams said. “The response from the community was overwhelming.” 

Although SNAP has since been reinstated, uncertainty remains. Donations that once arrived daily have slowed to just a few per week, Adams said. Many families visiting the pantry also face housing challenges or lack full access to kitchens, prompting volunteers to prioritize microwavable foods and hygiene products. 

The pantry’s work recently caught the attention of Gov. Tony Evers, who visited Jefferson as part of a statewide tour of food pantries. Shackelford described the visit as sincere and engaged. 

“You could tell he truly cares,” Shackelford said. “He understands that food security, healthcare and housing are all connected. He knows those problems eventually filter down to small communities like ours.” 

Evers spent much of his visit listening to volunteers’ concerns and reviewing the pantry statistics. His presence brought renewed visibility to food insecurity in Wisconsin, reinforcing the fact that hunger affects communities of all sizes. 

Schools continue to be a powerful force behind stocking the pantries’ shelves. At East Elementary, longtime Thanksgiving Food Drive coordinator Karissa Paar said the annual tradition teaches students both empathy and community responsibility. 

“Young children don’t always know about the needs of others in the world around them,” Paar said. “Doing community service helps them understand how we can be helpful to others outside of our school and family.” 

As Jefferson enters the season of giving, the message remains clear: Food is more than nourishment; it is connection, stability, and dignity. And thanks to support from the community, those who need it most will have access to a holiday meal and a reminder that they are not alone; not now, or ever.