Forward Janesville - TheReport - Third Quarter 2023

Bags of Hope: Delivering Much Needed Food for the Holidays Delivering Bags of Hope is another key annual fundraiser for the Janesville community that provides bags of groceries to 350 families and 50 senior citizens during the holiday season. The initial outreach was conceived by the workers at the General Motors plant to help employees who were affected by the long layoffs from Thanksgiving through the first of the year. In 2008, the year the plant officially closed, then SDJ Superintendent Dr. Schulte knew that there would be many families struggling in Janesville due to the closure. She was approached by Marv Wopat and Nancy Neinhuis in hopes that the District would take over their food drive. In cooperation with the organizers of the GM Food Drive, both groups worked together through the transition. As Delivering Bags of Hope transitioned to SDJ, District Administration worked together with UAW, JEA, and AFL-CIO (custodial, food service, and clerical Union) representatives to deliver a two-week supply of groceries to approximately 150 families. The UAW representatives worked side by side with the district to share their process. With the support of SDJ, Denise Jensen, an employee of the district, jumped in as coordinator and cheerleader. “Over the years, we have increased the number of families served to over 350 by developing corporate partnerships with Festival Foods, Dollar General, Seneca Foods, and Kwik Trip to assist us in the large endeavor,” shared Jensen. “Our goal for 2023 is to raise $50,000. We raise money through our Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press Concert, SDJ Trivia Night, Kwik Trip scrip card sales, corporate and community donations, and various other individual fundraisers.” Collaboration is on display when hundreds of volunteers get together to bag groceries and ship them out into the community each December. Festival Foods stores the groceries until the day of, Dollar General helps transport the food from Festival to the warehouse, and Van Galder bus company supplies buses to help get the food out to the people. It is clear that the Janesville community is passionate about getting food to people who need it, and the impressive community involvement – from organizations to businesses to individuals - has made Delivering Bags of Hope a Janesville tradition for everyone. For Janesville, helping and growing together seems to be part of community fabric. Denise Jensen, Executive Administrative Assistant, School District of Janesville