Hayward Community Food Shelf Serving the Area for 38 Years

HCFS Press Release

The Hayward Community Food Shelf (HCFS) is pleased to announce the completion of thirty-eight years of service to the Hayward community as a 501(c)3 organization helping those in need of food assistance. In November 1985, a small group of civic minded, compassionate people decided to join talents and energies to help those in need of food assistance in our community. Over the intervening years, hundreds of volunteers, supported by thousands of donors, have distributed millions of pounds of food to those living in Sawyer County and the surrounding communities. The organization has grown as creative minds have found new ways to help those in need.

Today HCFS proudly provides food assistance to more than 1,600 individuals every year through its General Food, Food 4 Kids, Food 4 Seniors and Food 4 Transition programs. HCFS also provides birthday bags to children ages 3-9 as well as extra food for celebrations each August through its Summer Picnic program and each November/December through its Holiday Meal program. HCFS is also a proud supporter of the LCO University’s Eagle Nest Food Pantry and Intern Program.

Food distribution is what we do. Here’s more information about some of our programs:

· Families receive an average of 42 pounds per person each time food is requested. While we claim this is a three-day supply, we hope it helps for far more days.

· HCFS continues as the county’s only distributor of the TEFAP program (The Emergency Food Assistance Program, commonly known as commodities). TEFAP provides an average of an additional 26 pounds per person monthly to each individual requesting food through the general program. (This food is donated to HCFS by the Indianhead Community Action Agency, who receives it from the state of Wisconsin.)

· Food 4 Kids program serves Hayward Public Schools, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Schools, St. Francis Solanus Schools, and Northern Lights Christian Academy. Approximately 40,000 pounds of food is distributed via the weekly weekend meals during the school year and another 5,000 pounds is distributed monthly during the summer.

· By the end of 2023, HCFS expects to distribute over 400,000 pounds of food through all its programs. Receiving this food are individuals of all ages, races, and from a wide variety of backgrounds and situations.

HCFS is an all-volunteer operated 501(c)3 organization. No volunteer receives any compensation for the hours they donate. No government funding is received. All donations are from individuals, organizations and businesses. Anyone wishing to help those in need of food assistance in Sawyer County and nearby communities, may simply write a check to the Hayward Community Food Shelf and mail it to PO Box 779, Hayward, WI 54843. To make a fee-free credit card donation, please go through the HCFS website (www.haywardfoodshelf.net).

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact HCFS at 715-634-HCFS(4237) or by email at hcfs@centurytel.net. HCFS is located at 16216W Highway 63S in Hayward. The Facebook page is haywardcommunityfoodshelf.