Janesville food drive still alive
UPDATE
The food drive planning committee met Wednesday morning and set Saturday, Dec. 19, as the distribution date. The effort also has a name: The School District of Janesville Employees' Community Food Drive.
For more details, read Thursday's Janesville Gazette, read online in the Gazette's E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com.
Photo 
Karen Schulte
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Marv Wopat
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Nancy Nienhuis
To help
To volunteer for the food drive, call the school district at (608) 743-5055 or Dave Parr, president of the Janesville Education Association, at (608) 743-6654. Donations may be mailed or dropped off at the Educational Services Center, 527 S. Franklin St., Janesville, WI 53548.
JANESVILLE — The massive holiday food drive that was born in the last big recession won’t die out in this one.
The Janesville School District will take over the UAW/GM holiday food drive, Superintendent Karen Schulte said Monday.
The founders and longtime organizers of the UAW/GM food drive, Marv Wopat and Nancy Nienhuis, have agreed to help the district organize its first drive. They met with school officials Monday.
Wopat announced 10 days ago that the food drive would not go on after 25 years because the main source of support, the workers at the now-shuttered General Motors plant, was gone.
Wopat said he and Nienhuis cautioned school officials that the UAW/GM effort took months to organize. This one will be put together in about three weeks.
“I just told them it’s your first year, and don’t think you’re going to see 375,” Wopat said. He was referring to the 375 families from around the county that got about two weeks’ worth of groceries last year, bought mostly from $20,000 in donations from GM workers.
Schulte said she realizes the limitations. Maybe it will be just one bag of groceries, she said; much depends on how much money is collected. The drive will be limited to the city and school district of Janesville.
“Whatever you get done in your first year is going to be helpful, and then you can build and grow from there,” Wopat advised the school officials.
The three unions representing school district workers and the district’s administrators are all on board, Schulte said. Each organization will ask its members for donations. Community members are invited to help, too.
Wopat and Nienhuis started the food drive during the recession of the 1980s. They started with just six volunteers and a handful of families that needed help. In later years, hundreds of volunteers would get up early on a weekend to pack the groceries and deliver them to families.
Schulte said one thing the district has at its fingertips is the names of needy families. She said principals and social workers know the families in need.
School workers know there are children who get regular meals through the school lunch program but aren’t always fed regularly when school is not in session, Schulte said.
“We have the ability to really know our families and who’s hurting and who might be slipping through the cracks,” Schulte said.
The district will coordinate with the two main providers of food to the needy in Janesville, the Salvation Army and ECHO, Schulte said.
The distribution date will probably be the Saturday before Christmas, Schulte said, but that is tentative. A school building probably will be chosen to be the packing and distribution center.
A planning meeting will be held this week to firm up details, Schulte said.
“I’m grateful someone’s going to pick it up and help families,” Wopat said. “I’m honored that they called and that we can assist.”
Dec 4, 2009 at 10:29 a.m.
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ghsthntr:Marv is a "star"in his own mine.I am not bashing Wopat.Just telling the truth.Go to a AA meeting.He is the last one in.Makes a grand apperance with his wife.Does he do some good?Probably.Did he work for GM?Yes and no.He never worked.Just collected a pay check.But anyway he is probably waiting for a invite to the walk of stars.Go get em Wopat!!
Dec 3, 2009 at 8:04 p.m.
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if you mean that i need help from Marv .......sorry but i dont think so!!!
Dec 3, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.
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matman- Do you have ANY idea what preperation goes into a food drive like what the UAW/GM food drive consists of? It takes MANY hours of preperation to get that thing organized. I don't understand how people can bash a man like Marv who has helped many people in this area. It's funny though because most of the people that bash Marv are usually the ones who need his help the most. (If you know what i mean;P)
Dec 3, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.
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I don't know if I would put Nienhuis in the same category as Mother Theresa!Why would someone even think that?She was a nurse,worked for GM Mangement.Called doctors to see if the employee really saw them.So drop it down about twenty levels.
Dec 3, 2009 at 10:42 a.m.
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You are right about "other people" doing the work!Just because you ORGANIZE the event does not make you "the man".Marv never did any physical work.He just stood around and tried to look important.Anyway I am glad the familys of this town can still have a happy holiday...
Dec 2, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.
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TechMasterFlex...as a teacher I can tell you that we are NOT the hightest paid people in the county. Did you forget about all the white collar jobs this county still has? I am positive they make more money than we as teachers do. I can also tell you that my job does not end at 3:45. There are many nights I am here until at least 4:30, and then still take work home so that I can be ready for the next day.
Dec 2, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
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i think it is great that it will continue, what i was saying is that Marv has always wanted the spotlight and now has gotten it again!!!I think it has helped alot of people in our area, i just think their have been alot of others from GM that have done alot fro this area and they don't seek out the media to let the whole city know it!!!Just for your information the comment what have i done ......i give my time to the hands of faith homeless shelter and i also helped at the echo thanksgiving food give away as well as the christmas one every year so i am not just talking to hear myself!!!!
Dec 2, 2009 at 12:16 p.m.
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Nurse Nancy- You have been my hero for over 30 years! Your kindness and attention to other peoples' feelings put you in a chair right next to Mother Theresa!
Dec 2, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
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Its GREAT that this wont die off with GM. Who better to do it then the teachers. With all their time off and being that they are now the highest paid people in Rock county without GM its only right that they take the ball and run. It also get them the attention they always want. Good work SDJ! Can't wait to see how much my taxes go up because of this.
Dec 2, 2009 at 9:54 a.m.
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chelleandlou, You asked "Or will it still go to GM families?"
Has not the effort been, in large part, BY the GM families (and many others), not FOR GM families?
Dec 2, 2009 at 9:43 a.m.
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the article said they will have councilors and social workers to help them decide on families. all will be in the janesville school system.
Dec 2, 2009 at 7:01 a.m.
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How are they going to choose which families get the food? Or will it still go to GM families?
Dec 1, 2009 at 11:34 p.m.
Dec 1, 2009 at 10:53 p.m.
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Wow, Mr. Wopat is organizing a food drive. Time to back off and thank all involved whether or not you like them. What are YOU doing to help the community?
Dec 1, 2009 at 8:47 p.m.
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btw, I don't personally know Mr. Wopat, I do know Nancy and she is one of the kindest people in Janesville, so thank you to everyone involved!
Dec 1, 2009 at 8:45 p.m.
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I think this is wonderful!! Stop bashing, who cares if you don't like this man? As far as I can see the school district called him and asked for assistance. So sorry if he has made you angry,but in this instance he is doing good for our community. Maybe a few of you could learn a lesson from him. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Dec 1, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.
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According to the story THEY called HIM. Must be a misprint or unprofessional journalism. Or stupidity.
Dec 1, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.
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i hope the bashers keep this in mind. this isn't about one organization or person. its about a group a of people who can or want to help those in need. i for one am glad there is new light in this program. it needed to be continued. i will be looking into donating my time.
Dec 1, 2009 at 7:07 p.m.
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staceyt....do you have ANY idea what an undertaking this is? The school district needs Marv's help to get this up and running in three short weeks. Marv put a lot of work, and sweat and tears into this project for 25+ years...it needs him in order to be successful.
Dec 1, 2009 at 6:59 p.m.
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Marv is always trying to stay in the spotlight........always has and always will!!!I am happy that this is going to still be there for thise in need but get him OUT of it!!!
Dec 1, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.
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Let's be positive folks!!!! Instead of bashing~DONATE!
Dec 1, 2009 at 6:20 p.m.
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....waiting for someone to start bashing teachers and the schools.....waiting......
Dec 1, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.
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Ya RIGHT Marv.It always seems to be about Marv..If people only knew..
Dec 1, 2009 at 4:53 p.m.
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Is there a day that goes by that the Gazette doesn't print a picture of Karen Schulte?
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