MADISON, Wis. — With Thanksgiving only a week away, it is crunch time at the Goodman Community Center as its team works to fill the gymnasium with enough food to feed over 4,000 families.
Amie Hoag is the director of communications for the Goodman Community Center, and she said the need is greater this year than ever before.
“We ended up having to close registration early this year because we saw an unprecedented response,” Hoag said.
The community center can serve 4,000 households. It’s a marker they hit earlier than expected for this year’s Thanksgiving Basket Drive.
“We are seeing a huge demand in our food pantry as well,” Hoag said. “Every week we are averaging a little over 300 households visiting our food pantry and that is just beyond anything we have ever seen before.”
Hoag said community members attributed this need to increasing prices at the grocery store and at home.
She said her team is doing what it can to meet that need.
Ron Salinas has been volunteering at the community center for years and he said he’s happy to do it.
“I have a great family, a great support system and because of that I just want to give back,” Salinas said.
Salinas said feeding the community is a group effort, and he invites more people to volunteer or donate this holiday season.
“You go back home and you have a roof over your head and clothes,” Salinas said. “You have to be thankful for that and you have to put out to the community for those less fortunate.”
The Goodman Community Center said it will take donations until Friday.
For those interested in volunteering or donating, click here.