Through a Hometown Health Grant, Mayo Clinic Health System in Bloomer awarded $15,000 to the Bloomer/New Auburn Food Pantry to expand the weekend meal program to middle and high school youth. The funds also helped establish a food pantry within Bloomer middle and high schools, so youth have easier access to food and meals.

The food pantry currently offers a weekend food program to the school districts of Bloomer and New Auburn and has about 70 students—mainly elementary aged—who are signed up and receive food weekly. This new initiative will reach middle and high school students who do not sign up for weekend meals but may not have adequate and easy access to healthy food. The new school locations will look like a mini store or pantry, the Bloomer food pantry will provide the food and the mini store will be run by school personnel. 

“School personnel have been amazed by the amount of food available for their students. Many teachers were buying food using their own money, as the need was that great,” reported Bloomer Food Pantry Director Jessica Hanson. “We have already been able to purchase equipment such as mini fridges and coolers for the school pantries and also can openers for students to take home, as many of our students have stated that not having one was an obstacle to sending home canned food.”

“We recognize the direct impact food insecurity has on an individual's overall health and well-being," says Brook Berg, director of community engagement at Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin. “Studies have shown that children with insufficient diets and lack of consistent access to food are more likely to have problems with health, academic learning, and behavioral issues. Providing support to youth who face food insecurity is core to our mission of investing in our communities and development of rural health populations.”