APPLETON, Wis. — Two cans at a time, Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell helped pack boxes of food for those in need on Tuesday.
Even on a busy game week, he said it was important to take time to help others.
“It’s a sense of humility. Just knowing it’s going to someone who really needs it, it warms my heart,” Campbell said. “I have three kids myself and just knowing that there are people out there who don’t have basic human needs like food is heartbreaking.”
Campbell was at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s Fox Valley location Tuesday as part of a Campbell’s Chunky Sack Hunger program tied to on-field quarterback sacks and product sales.
“Eating is a necessity and everybody deserves to have a good meal,” Campbell said. “Any way we can get out here and contribute and find ways to give back, we’re all for it.”
(Spectrum News/Nathan Phelps)
New numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show about 13% of Americans are facing food insecurity. That’s up from about 10% last year.
Patti Habeck is the president and CEO at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
“Both in Wisconsin and nationwide, what we’re seeing is a really dramatic increase in food insecurity,” she said. “It largely has to do with inflation and the cost of food and the unsettledness of the economy right now and how it’s impacting families. What we’re seeing is very similar to what we saw during COVID, numbers that are 40% higher than any time pre-COVID or above typical.”
While supporting food pantries is top of mind for many people over the holidays, the need is always there.
“We have food for the holidays and we really make a big push so everybody can have food on their table, but then the rest of the 10 months of the year we have to do an equal push,” Habeck said. “As soon as January rolls around, the need doesn’t end, it continues and it’s still those increased numbers. We need to make sure we’re always raising enough food.”
(Spectrum News/Nathan Phelps)
Knowing there’s a donation of 1,000 Campbell products for each QB sack isn’t lost on De’Vondre Campbell.
“It’s an extra incentive go work even harder knowing everything we do is going to a good cause,” he said. “We encourage everyone to help as much as they can whether it be through your time or donation. If you have food you aren’t using, we encourage everyone to donate it to a pantry of your choice.”