Race to Feed Southern Wisconsin packs 12,000 bags of weekend food
PEWAUKEE, Wis. — The sound of cheering, clapping, and food bags rustling filled Waukesha County Technical College on Thursday night, January 22, as hundreds of volunteers gathered for a fast-paced competition with a meaningful purpose.
The event, known as Race to Feed, brought together 52 teams to pack 1,000 boxes — nearly 12,000 bags — of weekend food for local students who face food insecurity. Each box contains 12 bags of kid-friendly food items designed to support students when school meals are unavailable.
The competition is lively, but the mission runs deeper.
This event supports the Blessings in a Backpack Southern Wisconsin Chapter, which provides weekend nutrition for children who receive free or reduced-price lunch during the school week. In Waukesha County alone, an estimated 11,000 children experience food insecurity. The event was made possible through the support of Zee Zees, the national Race to Feed sponsor that provided food for the bags, along with presenting sponsor Waukesha State Bank, host sponsor Waukesha County Technical College, and national event series sponsor Sysco.
“It’s a really big problem,” said Susie Reed, managing director of Blessings in a Backpack, in an interview with FOX6 News Milwaukee. “Food insecurity can sometimes bring some shame along with it, so we try to be discreet and anonymous.”
During the event, volunteers raced to see which team could pack their boxes the fastest, placing eight food items into each bag before sealing and stacking boxes for delivery. While trophies and bragging rights were awarded to the top teams, organizers emphasized that the true impact would be felt beyond the competition floor.
The packed boxes are distributed to local schools, ensuring students have consistent access to food throughout the school year. Blessings in a Backpack also maintains a three-week supply of food at each participating school, a safeguard that becomes especially important during unexpected school closures.
“If families can’t get to the grocery store or a food pantry, it really makes a difference that we’re able to provide a package of food for the weekend,” Reed said.
This year’s Race to Feed marked the second time the event has been held at WCTC. Organizers originally planned to deliver the packed boxes on Friday, Jan. 23, but dropping temperatures and school closures delayed deliveries until the following Monday.
While the competition ended in a matter of hours, its impact will last far longer — helping ensure students across Waukesha County have the nourishment they need to return to school ready to learn.
Those interested in supporting Blessings in a Backpack Southern Wisconsin Chapter can make a donation online to help provide hunger-free weekends for children in the community.
