Extra food drives add to success of La Crosse’s Rotary Lights

La Crosse’s Rotary Lights display has collected over 5 million items of food for local pantries in 28 years, and their collections have become even broader this holiday season. 

The Rotary joined with Great Rivers United Way to set up external food collections through the area this year, carried out by 26 businesses and groups, and those donations are now being added to the food total. 

Anne Paape from the United Way says this is another way for Coulee Region residents to show their generosity.

“Forty-three community food drive locations popped up all over our area,” says Paape, who points out that many collections will continue over the next few weeks.

“Community residents, as they always do, responded to our call for help, and it’s been a wonderful success story, and it says a lot about the huge heart that this community has when it comes to helping others,” she says.

“It allows us to give people a generous amount of food,” says Virginia Von Ruden of the Cashton Cupboard. “With these non-perishable (items), we can also add then dairy products, meat, and so forth.”

The light displays in Riverside Park for 2022 have been on every night since November 25th.