Ben's Wish started after the death of our 11 year old son. Two days before Ben died while on a camping trip, he fed a man in need a fresh piece of fruit, "an apple." Ben's Wish is 3-Fold:
1) Raise $ for Ben's Wish Weekend Backpack Program to Provide Food to Our School Children on the Weekends.
2) Community Food Drives
3) Raise Awaress on Local Hunger - let Ben's Story Lead the Way! "If a child ca
n do it, so can you!"
(See Ben's Poem he wrote 2 months before he died on our website @ www.BensWish.org)
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The below is how & where we started:
***Food Drives:
Ben's Wish is collecting non-perishable food items, annually, in Green Bay, WI @ 3 locations:
1) 4th of July, Fire Over the Fox - Downtown, Green Bay
2) Aurora BayCare Medical Center: June 1st - July4th & Spooky Sprint in October for the families (Spooky initiated in Oct. 2013).
3) Bellin Run Expo Center @ Athlete's Village @ Astor Park - every June.
*4th of July Food Drive:
Ben's Wish Food Drive @ Fire Over the Fox, July 4th, Downtown, Green Bay, occurs @ 2 various locations & originated on July 4th, 2009i:
1) Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge - East & West Sides - Main St. & Dousman St. @ 1:30 PM - 9:30 PM. Look for Ben's banner!
2) Liberty Bell Ringing @ 1:00 PM at the Brown County Courthouse. The first 200 Verterans/Children attendees donating a non-perishable food item will receive a $2 Bill. (Depicts the Signing of the Declaration of Independence).
*Aurora BayCare Ben's Wish Food Drive:
The Aurora BayCare Medical Center Ben's Wish Food Drive has food collections sites @ the Cafeteria & Orthopaedic Sports Center entry as of June 1st 2011 - present & every now every October as of 2013 for the Spooky Sprint by the Sports Center.
*Ben's Wish Food Drive @ the Bellin Run Expo:
Bellin Run Expo Center @ Athlete's Village @ Astor Park has Ben's Wish Food Drive as of June 2012 - present. Over 18,000 runners/walkers. All food donations go to the Brown County Food & Hunger Network - includes over 20 local pantries....The Salvation Army, etc. Paul's Pantry included, too! Ben's Wish is truly the umbrella in which all local pantries are invited! Ben's Wish Weekend (Food) Backpack:
Ben's Wish Weekend Backpacks - Where Hunger Takes a Hike in partnership with the Rotary Club of Green Bay (Rotary Commitment started in July of 2011 with commitment through2014). Since January of 2012, local schoolchildren living in poverty (qualifying for free & reduced lunch) pilot program initiated @ Jefferson Elementary School go home with some healthy food in their backpack for the school weekend. Able to provide food now to Tank Elementary School, & hope to expand to the most in need with the support of our community & others. Ben's Wish Weekend Backpacks - "very first" Dinner/Fundraiser/Auction - was presented by all of the Rotary Clubs of this area: DePere Rotary Club, Howard Sunrise Rotary Club, Green Bay West Rotary Club & Rotary Club of Green Bay on August 20th of 2012 & then Green Bay Rotary Club through September 8th of 2013. This years event for the Ben's Wish Dinner Fundraiser & Auction:
Date: September 11, 2014. Place: The Hyatt on Main, Green Bay, WI
Speaker: Dr. Michelle Langengeld, Superintendant of GBAPS
Time: Social Hour - 5:30 PM & Dinner - 6:30 PM
Tickets: $50
*See website & FB for further information on details. Raise Local Hunger Awareness Through Community Activities (See FB page for all curren listings).
