2025 goal is 6000 food items!
About the Jeep Food Ride
- Established in 2002, the annual Jeep Food Ride is held in support of La Crosse, Wisconsin’s Rotary Lights stated mission to “feed the hungry of the Coulee Region”.
- Each year, Jeepers from around the state of Wisconsin as well as some from Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, collect non-perishable food and monetary donations from their workplace, friends, family or anyone willing to support our efforts. Monetary donations are pooled and used to purchase non-perishable food in bulk.
- The Jeepers come together each year on a Saturday in December. Food donations are gathered, counted and boxed in preparation of the Saturday night donation event. As evening approaches, the group gathers at our partner, Pischke Motors, to remove tops and doors from the Jeeps and decorate each vehicle with a variety of Christmas lights and displays. The group then proceeds as a lighted parade through Rotary Lights, becoming a part of the spirit of helping the hungry.
- While we don’t have exact item totals from our early years (we recorded in pounds of food vs. items back then), we do have accurate records back to 2013 in terms of items. Looking at year over year averages, we can conservatively estimate the number of items donated since 2002 at 64784. We hope to break the 70,000 mark this year
- We also donate pet food through our partnership with Central Animal Hospital and Dr. Doug Kratt because pet’s get hungry too!
