NEIGHBORS PLACE INC THE

THE MARKET, FORMALLY REFERRED TO AS THE FOOD PANTRY, HAD AN EXCELLENT TRANSITION YEAR! WE OFFICIALLY MOVED INTO OUR NEW SPACE AT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAMPUS AT THE BEGINNING OF 2023. NOT ONLY DID WE MOVE TO A NEW BUILDING, BUT WE INVITED OUR GUESTS BACK INDOORS AFTER 3 LONG YEARS OF OUTDOOR DISTRIBUTION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. OUR GUESTS WERE EXCITED TO SHOP INDOORS AGAIN AND PEOPLE WE NEVER SERVED PREVIOUSLY WERE WELCOMED IN TO EXPERIENCE FOOD PROVIDED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AT THE END OF 2023 WE SERVED 18,788 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT MARATHON COUNTY WITH HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. OUR NUMBERS SPIKED AFTER THE END OF COVID ERA BENEFITS, BUT WE WERE WELL POSITIONED TO HELP OUR NEW FAMILIES. WE WELCOMED 1,653 NEW HOUSEHOLDS TO ENJOY SHOPPING FOR FOOD WITHOUT STIGMA OR SHAME. IN ADDITION TO OUR INDOOR SHOPPING MODEL, OUR DELIVERIES TO HOMEBOUND FAMILIES CONTINUED TO FLOURISH. AT THE END OF 2023 WE COMPLETED 1,657 HOME DELIVERIES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FEEDING AMERICA AND THE USDA TO PROVIDE HEALTHIER, FRESHER FOOD OPTIONS TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

THE BABIES' PLACE, OUR COMMUNITY DIAPER BANK, OFFICIALLY HAS A UNIQUE SPACE INSIDE THE NEIGHBORS' PLACE. THE BABIES' PLACE PROVIDES DIAPERS, PERIOD PRODUCTS, AND BASIC NEEDS TO CAREGIVERS OF BABIES AND TODDLERS IN ADDITION TO OFFERING FEMININE HYGIENE. WE ALSO PROVIDE BABY FORMULA, BABY FOOD AND BEAUTIFUL HAND MADE BLANKETS AND KNITTED HATS TO FAMILIES VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW. DIAPERS AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, IN ADDITION, IN WI, THESE PRODUCTS ARE MORE COSTLY THAN IN OTHER STATES DUE TO THE "LUXURY TAX" OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PINK TAX". BY PROVIDING THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED, WE ARE HELPING THEM TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND BALANCE OTHER NECESSITIES. AT THE END OF 2023, WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 2,631 HOUSEHOLDS WITH DIAPERS AND BASIC NEEDS. WE ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL DIAPER BANK NETWORK WHICH PROVIDES US WITH COST SAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIAPERS AS WELL AS PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO BUILD AWARENESS FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY TOOLS TO BRING AWARENESS TO DIAPER NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.