Canasta Basica Gratuita

“Free Basic Basket.” This program was started in Wausau and Abbotsford by our friend, Tony Gonzalez. On April 25th and 26th, over two hundred families lined up to receive groceries, no questions asked, that were donated by United Way of Marathon County, Marathon County Hunger Coalition, and individuals. The event was advertised through Spanish language channels and word of mouth to target our undocumented neighbors who, though they pay taxes and contribute to our community, will receive no stimulus checks. Furthermore, current policy dictates that receipt of public funds risks losing a path to citizenship.

We here at FPC have been invited to hold an event in Marshfield. The date has been set for May 16th. We have applied for and received a grant from the Marshfield Area Community Foundation and are currently receiving donations from individuals. Plans are being made to purchase food from Sysco through United Way’s account and from local groceries, especially Hispanic groceries that would know specific cultural preferences. Barb Gillespie is collecting children’s books to pass out to families with children. Jackie Pickett is organizing a collection of personal hygiene items.

We will need volunteers on hand to pack the parcels of food and set up tables. We will need your Spanish-language skills if you have any. The online giving button on our website has a box to check to direct your contribution to Canasta Basica Gratuita so that you can support this work. Most of all, we ask for your prayers for this project that God would bless our efforts and that our neighbors would know that they are not alone.