Many area food pantries and the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing (NATH) in Rhinelander got some welcome groceries to fill their pantries, thanks to all the Trig’s Food and Drug stores throughout the Northwoods, including the one in Rhinelander. “We partnered with our customers to collect food for these organizations,” said Steve Heise, Trig’s store director in Rhinelander. “Each store in our organization participated.” This is the third year in a row Trig’s has held these food drives.

In addition to the Trig’s store in Rhinelander, the Wausau, Minocqua and Eagle River Trig’s stores also collected food and distributed it to their local food pantries. For instance, the food collected in Minocqua went to the Boulder Junction Area Food Pantry and the Lakeland Area Food Pantry. In Wausau, donations went to the Neighbor’s Place Food Pantry and donations from the Eagle River Trig’s went to food pantries in Land O’Lakes, Three Lakes and in Eagle River.

On Tuesday, Heise and Mike Nabbefeld, assistant store manager in Rhinelander, delivered more than 3,000 pounds of groceries to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry and the Elcho Food Pantry in addition to NATH. “We filled up three vans and a truckload with groceries for this year’s deliveries,” said Heise. “We especially like to target this time of year for these donations because it is so needed. At Christmas these places seem to do OK, but by now donations may be lacking. The need goes up for food but many times availability goes down so we are glad to help.”

Rhinelander Area Food Pantry Director Jane Motowski agrees. “More and more people are signing up to receive food, especially this time of year,” she said. “Donations like this really help us keep our shelves filled, which we are always grateful for.”

And groceries are always needed at NATH. “At Frederick Place, the residents make their own breakfasts and lunches with food that is provided,” said Jodi Paulson, shift manager. “The food that was donated from Trig’s will stock our cupboards and pantry for some time, with a wonderful variety of canned goods, pasta and boxed foods. Trig’s made giving more convenient, by having the bags ready, but it was the community who opened their hearts with their pocket books. We so appreciate all the support we have continually received from the community and a big thank you to Trig’s.”