By MEGAN HUGHES
Ironwood - The Gogebic County 4-H Knapsack program received a $1,500 donation this past week from Republic Services to go toward purchasing of food for students in need during holiday breaks.
Tyler Jacobson, municipal sales manager for the Northern Wisconsin branch of Republic Services presented the donation on their behalf.
According to Gogebic County 4-H program coordinator Ashley Dennis, the donation will be able to feed approximately 100 families, divided among the four school districts the program serves.
Dennis brought an example bag of supplies to show what goes into them, including a variety of shelf stable food items totaling a value of $40.
"We try to hit up businesses and ask for donations for the program," said Dennis. "This one alone will go toward around 25 families per school district that we serve in Gogebic County. It's just families, and if they have four or more in the family, they get two bags so they have a bit more."
The program runs during the Thanksgiving, winter and spring break periods, said Dennis.