New Endowment Fund launched for Clayton County Food Shelf

The Clayton County Foundation for the Future is pleased to announce the launch of a new endowment fund for the Clayton County Food Shelf in St. Olaf. The William P. Wille Food Assistance Endowment will provide annual support, forever, ensuring a sustainable source of income for the organization. 

Starting out, the endowment will provide approximately 280 meals per year for area families. As the endowment grows over time, that number will increase.  

Utoni Ruff, food shelf supervisor, says that currently the organization is serving an average of 151 households per month. “It’s not uncommon for a household to have three to four families living together,” she explains. That monthly figure amounts to 589 individuals served through the food shelf’s full-time, five-day-a-week operating schedule. 

Individuals who would like to support immediate food needs can participate in Souper Bowl Sunday on February 8. Parishioners are invited to place $1 or more in soup pots placed in churches across the county. Contributions will be used to purchase food items. 

All are welcome to contribute to the new endowment and can do so by contacting Emily Sadewasser, the Foundation’s executive director, by visiting dbqfoundation.org/ccff, or by mailing checks to the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque at 700 Locust St., Ste. 195, Dubuque, IA 52001.  Contributions of $50 or more may be eligible for the generous Endow Iowa 25% State Tax Credit. 

“We are here to support community members who recognize community needs and want to make an impact,” says Sadewasser. “With current and anticipated challenges around food access, we are pleased to support William in the establishment of this fund to help our neighbors. We appreciate his generosity and forward thinking.”

The Foundation offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Sadewasser at 563-880-6044. 

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The Clayton County Foundation for the Future, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, was created with the intention of setting up a perpetual endowment fund that would serve the needs of all of Clayton County. To learn more, visit dbqfoundation.org/ccff.

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The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2002, we have inspired people to give back to their community, and we turn this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed.

Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways we are building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all.