Tomah Health staff continued an annual donation to help families who rely on Tomah’s Neighbor for Neighbor Food Pantry.
Tomah Health marketing & public relations director Eric Prise said the $1,620 donation to the pantry is from hospital staff who had the opportunity to accept a gift card from the hospital as a holiday gift or donate the value of the item.
Pantry operations director Dawn Pleuss said the funds will be used to help with an increased number of people visiting the pantry at 1118 W. Veterans St., Tomah. “A lot of food pantries right now do need a lot of extra help because they’re seeing a high increase in numbers,” said Pleuss. “There’s a lot of cuts with certain things and everything is so expensive. It’s just hard for an average person even if you are working, to go to the grocery store and make ends meet.”
She said that between 700 and 750 households are being served at the pantry, which is up from the past. Pleuss said they will use the donation to purchase breakfast cereal which is in high demand.
Over the last 14 years Tomah Health has made the donation, which has totaled more than $35,000 to the local pantry.