Local news- Press Release
Kenosha County Wisconsin - DCFS staff serve community with annual Feed 100 Families Food Drive 09 December 2023 ( news )
Kenosha County , state Wisconsin ( By Press Release office)
Dec 09,2023
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A friendly competition among staff in Kenosha County’s Division of Children and Family Services is again putting food on the table for local families in need .
The Feed 100 Families Food Drive contest , held Friday , is holiday season tradition in DCFS , in which the division’s various units collect food donations and decorate their work areas in with various themes .
In so doing , they’re competing for two trophies: Most Generous and Most Creative . Moreover , they’re giving back to the community , while having some fun along the way .
“I am so impressed by the generosity and the creativity of these teams , ” said County Executive Samantha Kerkman , who was on hand for Friday’s festivities . “This is a wonderful way to ring in the holidays while also serving those in need . ”
Kerkman served as a judge in this year’s competition alongside county Human Services Director John Jansen .
Ultimately , the Most Creative trophy went to the Youth Justice/Clerical team for its crime scene skit , which took the judges through a scenario in which someone had “sabotaged” the unit , ruining the festive decorations that had been set up . A series of clues led to the culprit — Jansen himself — who was “sentenced” to community service , organizing a closet full of food that unit members collected .
Most Generous was awarded to the Ongoing Services Unit , which collected an estimated $1 , 200 to $1 , 300 worth of food , plus a gift card that will be given to a teen in foster care who will soon be launching into adulthood and going to college . Their donation also included a generous cash contribution from the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office .
Those funds will be combined with cash donations from Professional Services Group/Community Impact Programs and the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha to purchase perishable items including milk , eggs , bread and fresh fruits and vegetables .
Other competitors included the Prevention Services Network , Child Protective Services , and the DCFS management team .
All of the food collected was sorted and delivered Saturday to families throughout the community .
Gang Intervention Supervisor Donna Rhodes , who coordinates the event each year , noted that the employees purchase the food and decorate their work areas during non - working hours , meaning they are volunteering their time as well as their talent and treasure .
Katie Schroeder , a member of the trophy - winning Ongoing Services team , said she loves to participate .
“It’s one of my favorite events every single year just because it really gives us an opportunity to get all of our creativity going , and I really love the friendly competition , ” said Schroeder , a social worker . It’s awesome to see what each unit does , and then of course we love being able to give back to the community . ”
Cheyenne Rahn , a social worker in the Youth Justice Unit , agreed .
“It’s just fun to come together as a unit , ” Rahn said . “Oftentimes , we have high caseloads or we’re really busy , so this brings us time during lunch or after work hours to come together and create something that’s just so fun . And again , like Katie said , it’s a really nice way to give back to the community . ”
More information about the Kenosha County Division of Children and Family Services and its various service areas is available at
kenoshacounty . org/241/Children - Family - Services
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