Valued Voice

On Oct. 28, Executive Director of the WHA Foundation Leigh Ann S. Larson visited SSM Health Baraboo, awarding them the 2025 Global Vision Community Partnership award.

Founded in January 2016, their award-winning initiative, Beyond Blessed Pantry, is committed to alleviating food insecurity in Baraboo, Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells and other surrounding communities. The need for food assistance was identified through observation in local hospitals and outreach efforts, which revealed that many individuals and families lacked consistent access to nutritious food. 

L to R: Leigh Ann S.  Larson, Vice President of Education and Marketing for the Wisconsin Hospital Association and Executive Director of the WHA Foundation; DeAnn Thurmer, Hospital President; Rachel Meier, Community Health Specialist; Shannon Howley, Director of Beyond Blessed; Bill Becker, Beyond Blessed Board President; Julia Randles, Foundation Director; Mary Laham, VP Clinical Administrator

As the Pantry has grown, so has the demand. What began as a small initiative has evolved into a vital community resource, now serving over 800 families weekly across five counties. The overarching goal is to ensure that anyone in need has access to food, regardless of residency or income level. The pantry does not impose residency restrictions and allows participants to receive food at every pantry event. This open access model ensures that no one is turned away due to geographic boundaries or organizational limitations. Because the pantry does not receive government funding, it operates with greater flexibility and fewer restrictions. All food and supplies are obtained through donations and purchases made with donated funds, allowing the organization to remain responsive to the evolving needs of the community. 

This is entirely a volunteer driven endeavor, with more than 60 volunteers contributing approximately 280 hours of service each week. Volunteers, who play a central role in the pantry’s operations and success, are trained to uphold the organization's values of dignity, respect and compassion.

Congratulations to SSM Health Baraboo and to the Beyond Blessed Pantry.

Established in 1993, the goal of the Global Vision Community Partnership Award is to provide recognition, financial support and public awareness of a community health initiative or project, created in partnership with a WHA member, that successfully addresses a documented community health need. Partnerships must reach across the community or population served and the program must be an active, ongoing enterprise at the time of the nomination.