When winter finally loosens its grip on the Northwoods, most of us are thinking about fishing openers and getting the boat ready. But for the folks at the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, spring means something different: empty shelves.
Every year like clockwork, donations plummet after New Year’s. The holiday giving spirit fades, and pantries across Oneida County feel it hard. That’s why the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry launched its annual Spring Challenge on March 1st, running through April 30th.
The need doesn’t take a break just because the calendar flips to February.
Why Donations Drop After the Holidays
Bill Vancos, co-chair of the Spring Challenge, sees the pattern every year. Holiday generosity gives way to winter quiet, but families still need help.
“People need to realize we have needs, and we serve food 12 months out of the year,” Vancos said. In 2025 alone, 2,390 residents across Oneida County received food from the pantry.
That’s not a small number for our corner of Wisconsin. When you factor in the rural nature of the Northwoods — long distances to grocery stores, limited public transit, and wages that don’t always stretch to cover both rent and food — the pantry becomes a lifeline.
Nearly a Million Pounds of Food Distributed Last Year
The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry isn’t messing around. Last year they distributed almost 940,000 pounds of food. Let that sink in for a second.
That includes everything from canned vegetables to fresh produce from their community garden. But here’s what really hits home: their children’s programs serve about 37,000 meals a year through partnerships with the Rhinelander School District.
Guy Hansen, the other co-chair of the Spring Challenge, knows exactly what keeps those numbers up: consistent donations, especially cash. “We can buy food in bulk very often,” Hansen explained. “When something goes on sale at the store for 50 cents instead of 75 cents, we will buy a couple pallets of it.”
Your $20 donation buys a lot more peanut butter when the pantry can shop wholesale than when you grab a jar at the store.
What the Pantry Needs Most Right Now
Food donations are always welcome, but some items fly off the shelves faster than others. The pantry especially needs:
- Peanut butter — protein-packed and shelf-stable, it’s a staple for families
- Canned meat like tuna, chicken, or Vienna sausages
- Cash or checks — seriously, money goes further than you’d think
- Non-perishable items valued at $1 per pound during the challenge
The Spring Challenge includes partial matching from anonymous local families, which means your donation gets stretched even more. Every dollar counts when you’re trying to keep 1,100 households fed year-round.
Twenty Years of Feeding Northwoods Neighbors
The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since opening in 2005, they’ve distributed over 9 million pounds of food to families across our region.
That’s two decades of neighbors helping neighbors. They’ve expanded from basic household food assistance to specialized programs like children’s meal plans and a community garden that grows fresh produce right here in the Northwoods.
They even partner with Wild Instincts wildlife rehab and local farmers to redistribute surplus food that doesn’t meet standard distribution guidelines. Nothing goes to waste when it can feed someone — or something.
How to Help During the Spring Challenge
The Spring Challenge runs through April 30th, which gives you plenty of time to contribute. Drop off food donations at the pantry on Kemp Street in Rhinelander, or mail a check.
Think of it like your personal finances, Vancos says. “You have money, and then you spend it, and it goes up and down, so we are just trying to keep things level.”
Spring in the Northwoods is about renewal — ice-out on the lakes, trout streams opening up, trails drying out. For families struggling with food insecurity, it’s also about knowing someone in the community has their back. The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry serves food every single month, but they can’t do it without consistent support from people like you.
Toss some canned goods in your cart next time you’re at Trig’s. Write a check. Whatever you can swing.
Because up here, we take care of our own — not just when it’s convenient, but all year long.
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