Hello Friends of KCFB & Welcome to Summer!
We have begun our Meet & Greets with area companies, foundations, agencies, county representatives, and strategic leaders to introduce our leadership team and share our objectives and progress as a board and non-profit. We are appreciative of partners that have helped us raise $95,000 in donations to date; and to the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Agency who via our partnership with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin helped KCFB secure a critical grant for a complete refrigeration/freezer system to support our forward growth. The State’s program presented up to $30M in funding to organizations across the state to support farmers and providers and ensure sufficient investment is available statewide to address gaps in storage, distribution, and transportation infrastructure across our communities. Many of our pantries also share in access to this funding improving availability to more local nutritious food sources like the Hunger Relief Federation’s Badger Box Program, and the overall expansion of systemwide capacity.
I want to also acknowledge other grantee organizations like the Kloss Foundation who provided a second annual contribution to KCFB. And a special thank you to Roots Hospitality Group (Waterfront Warehouse, El Camino, and La Fogata Mexican Grill) along with Visit Kenosha who matched donations for our first annual Restaurant Week fundraiser in February.
Looking ahead we hope you can join us on June 3 for a great family event with the Kenosha Kingfish. Details are included in this newsletter and on the KCFB website. You will also find us participating monthly at the Kenosha Harbor Market where we will look to raise awareness concerning hunger and nutritional gaps in our community. And I hope you enjoy this newsletter’s spotlight on Chef Daniel Bonanno, a Kenosha native who continues to be celebrated for his skills regionally and nationally as a chef on the rise. Daniel will be partnering with KCFB later this summer for a Farm to Table fundraising dinner.
As a reminder, summer meal programs will take effect in the weeks ahead as sessions end for the school year. Each school will have unique dates and times, so reach out to your area school system for details.
The Federal government has extended the pandemic relief program possibly through November ensuring current food share programs remain in effect. This is a welcome respite for our community given the challenges families face with rising gas, grocery and utility costs driven by record setting inflation and global food supply risks from the Russian-Ukraine War.
As friends to KCFB, thank you for your support to keep Kenosha strong, healthy, and united.
Teri Knuese
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