By Martha Landry Each morning Longfellow Elementary school teacher Nancy Nelson-Meinen asks her students to share something about themselves. Sometimes they cannot think of anything so she asks, ‘What did you have for supper?’ Too often, the veteran teacher says, the reply is, “Nothing.” One in five children in the United States struggle with [...]

By Brittni Straseske Ring. Ring. The phone in Pat Spaulding’s third grade classroom at Sherman Elementary interrupts a lively discussion on household pets. As the teacher answers the call, the children instantly lean toward each other and burst into whispered conversation. “3, 2, 1.” Spaulding is back in the front of the room and counts [...]

By Carolyn Tiry and Breann Schossow [Audio clip: view full post to listen] There have been major changes happening in Eau Claire over the past 10 years. Not only has the population grown, but businesses have come and gone and large construction projects have started and finished. The housing market — and the way people [...]

In the 1940s, a Midwestern farmer named Dan West discovered a way to end hunger by providing families with livestock and training so they would not have to depend on others to feed them. The first shipment of heifers was transported to Puerto Rico from Pennsylvania in 1944 to malnourished families. These heifers supplied them with [...]

By Scott Morfitt [Audio clip: view full post to listen] On this week’s inaugural edition of the Inside Eau Claire Podcast, host Scott Morfitt interviews Rachel Keniston of non-profit The Community Table.  The interview covers the mission of The Community Table, the ways they use their funds, as well as a fundraiser for the organization [...]

Poverty and food insecurity rates have been on the rise for several years in Eau Claire County, matching trends across Wisconsin and the United States.

Faculty and staff from Longfellow Elementary have collaborated to implement programs, hire new culturally responsive teaching coaches, create book studies and after-school programs, provide snacks, meals and supplies and enhance community partnerships to help bridge the gap between poverty and education.

By Rebecca Jonas
Feed My People Food Bank provides food and other necessities to 85 non-profit organizations, 21 of which are in Eau Claire. It is the largest distributor in the state.