Spring is in the Air

March 2026

FULL CARTS. FULLER HEARTS. SINCE 1979.

Last month I mentioned the mild February weather…wow, that didn’t last! It sounds like this weekend’s forecast may be interesting, so please stay warm and safe.

Next week will be a busy one around here. Our team is gearing up for the store’s Spring changeover, and the result of their hard work is always exciting. Bright colors and a touch of spring cheer will debut in our Resale Boutique on the 24th!

Behind the scenes, the drywall dust should be gone and painting completed next week as we wrap up the improvements to our back office space. Several people have mentioned that they didn’t even realize Family Sharing has a second floor, so I’m planning to share a brief video tour in next month’s newsletter to give you a peek behind the scenes.

Next week is also Saint Patrick’s Day - and a great excuse to enjoy a delicious meal at Bamboo Bistro in Grafton on Thursday during our Dine to Donate event supporting Family Sharing. Join us for dinner or call in a takeout order and a portion of the proceeds will help support our mission.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and for your continued support of Family Sharing’s mission to alleviate hunger in Ozaukee County with dignity and compassion.

You are an important part of the Family Sharing community.

Julie Hoover, Executive Director

March Program Sponsors!

Thank you to our amazing sponsors- You are making this happen!

Our Bags in Backpacks program is packed with purpose — ensuring that every student has access to nourishing food over the weekend so they can return to school on Monday feeling supported, focused, and ready to learn.

🏆 Circle of Champion Sponsor

Crossroads Presbyterian Church & VBS Program

Our Senior Delivery is more than just food delivery to seniors, it also about fostering community, building relationships, and ensuring that no senior has to face hunger. Every week, our volunteers, in partnership with Portal, Inc. visit senior complexes to deliver groceries. Our Mobile Delivery program brings groceries straight to our clients' neighborhoods, making access easier, faster, and more affordable.

Pantry Partner - Senior & Mobile Delivery

Looking to be a Program Sponsor in 2026?

Contact julie@familysharingozaukee.org

Our Community Helping Hands!

Our community comes together through sponsors, donors, food drives and helping hands- and we are so grateful!

Thank you to some of those we've seen in the last month:

We loved having members of the Charter Manufacturing team spend time volunteering with us! They helped sort food donations and check expiration dates. Thank you so much for your help!

A big thank you to LynneMark Home Staging and Color Consulting for their donation of furniture, housewares, rugs, lamps, artwork, and decor. Some pieces are already for sale, be on the lookout as more items hit the floor.

Cedarburg Junior Women's Club dropped off pamper kits to share with other women. Thank you for making others feel cared for!

The Grafton Lions treasurer, John Krueger, stopped by to drop off a donation check from a fundraising event the Lions held. We are SO grateful for their generosity.

Looking to schedule your business, group/organization or to volunteer in 2025-2026 or host a food drive?

Contact info@familysharingozaukee.org

Resale Boutique

Shop with purpose at the Family Sharing Resale Boutique!

All proceeds support our mission — stop in today!

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm

💻 Now Selling on eBay!

We’re excited to share that we’re now listing select items on eBay — be sure to check out our current listings (https://www.ebay.com/usr/familysharingozaukee)! Selling online helps us reach a broader audience and ultimately achieve a higher value for special or unique items.

SPRING CLEANING

Spring into action! 🌸 As you clear out the clutter this season, please think of Family Sharing! Your gently used items can become someone else's treasure. Family Sharing uses all purchases from the Resale Boutique to purchase food for the Pantry- so your donations help feed our neighbors in need!

From the Pantry

We are happy to announce that we have been awarded a $25,000 food purchasing grant from Hunger Task Force, a Wisconsin-based food bank. These funds from their "Connecting Farms to Families" program, received through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, will be used to purchase fresh Wisconsin-sourced products for our clients - a big win for both our community and for the Wisconsin farmers and producers who are a part of the program.

Tri-Pantry meeting:

We were happy to welcome members from The Food Pantry (Port Washington) and Ozaukee Food Alliance (Saukville), along with members from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to our conference room for a great discussion about collaboration and how to best work together and create a stronger and equitable food distribution network in Ozaukee County.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin's CEO visited us. Last Monday, the Interim President and CEO of Feeding America, Patti Dew, visited us. We had an outstanding conversation about what Family Sharing's pantry is up to and how we envision equity throughout Ozaukee County. She was very much in agreement with our ideas, and we were excited to hear what she has in store for increasing food access throughout the region. This serves as another example of us strengthening partnerships moving forward.