Pequot Tool and Manufacturing donates $20,000 to food shelves

040721.PEJ.PequotTooldonation.jpg — The Pequot Tool and Manufacturing fundraising committee responsible for organizing a large donation to the Pine River Area Food Shelf and Lakes Area Food Shelf is Betty Street (from left) Becky Gordon, Cherie Weyhausen, Kari Alcock, Becky Wohl, Monica Good, David Goerges, Laura Stromberg, Bethany Wurst, Travis Roach, Ryan Trumble. Not pictured: Angie Littman, Rachel Gammon, & Caroline Croatt. Photo Submitted April 2021

By Travis G. Grimler

April 12, 2021 at 4:00 AM

Pequot Tool and Manufacturing in Jenkins has organized a food drive every March since at least 2013, with each year bringing in $5,000-$8,000 to donate to area food shelves.

This year served as a real high point with the company raising $11,000 internally plus additional matching funds from the company board of directors and Tito's Handmade Vodka to reach a grand total of $20,000.

Funds are donated to the Pine River Area Food Shelf and the Lakes Area Food Shelf in Pequot Lakes.

The company begins planning for the March food drive in February. The tradition began with co-founder Agnes Goerges. The month-long program includes fun events and incentives, including silent auctions, medallion hunts, bake sales, gun raffles, cookoffs, penny wars and laser metal art sales.

"Pequot Tool is proud of our employees for fostering a culture of giving," Human Resources Manager Laura Stromberg said in a news release. "This generosity to the community positively impacts so many and is obviously a meaningful mission for them."

By Travis G. Grimler

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.

Travis Grimler began work at the Echo Journal Jan. 2 of 2013 while the publication was still split in two as the Pine River Journal and Lake Country Echo. He is a full time reporter/photographer/videographer for the paper and operates primarily out of the northern stretch of the coverage area (Hackensack to Jenkins).

Pequot Tool and Manufacturing donates $20,000 to food shelves

Matching funds helped reach milestone