Photo caption: Amber Kilawee (second from right), Fond du Lac Area United Way executive director, accepts a $2,500 donation from the SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Medical Staff, including DeAnn Thurmer, hospital president; Molly Meier, DPM, chief of staff; and Nicole Gill, hospital VP, clinical administrator.
The SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Medical Staff has donated $2,500 to the Fond du Lac Area United Way to support the Ripon Area School District’s weekend backpack food program for kids on free and reduced lunch. Every Friday, food insecure children from the Ripon Area School District take home a backpack filled with child-friendly/easy to prepare food items. The backpack is returned to school at the beginning of the following week to be filled for the next weekend. According to Wisconsin Asset Limited Income Constrained and Employed (ALICE) report data, 42% of individuals and families, throughout the City of Ripon, live in poverty or do not make enough to afford their basic needs.
“Our most at-risk students for food insecurity are also the ones who are most affected by the achievement gap, and below-average academic outcomes that can have lifelong effects,” according to Amber Kilawee, Fond du Lac Area United Way executive director. “These students rely on their school cafeterias for the majority of their nutrition during the week. These supports do not exist over the weekend, so many community schools have adopted weekend backpack food programs. These programs send food home discreetly on Fridays to ensure students are well fed over the weekend and come back on Monday mornings ready to learn.” In every single county across the country, families are feeling the effects of food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 49 million people in the United States relied on food banks and other programs to help put food on the table in 2022.
“Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health and development, particularly in children,” according to Molly Meier, DPM, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Medical Staff chief of staff. “It’s not just about preventing illness; it’s about fostering growth, learning, and a vibrant, energetic childhood. Understanding the importance of nutrition for children is crucial for parents, educators, and communities alike.’ The donation was presented to Kilawee by Dr. Meier, as well as DeAnn Thurmer, Ripon Community Hospital president, and Nicole Gill, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital VP, clinical administrator.
