Where is this work going?

Ok, so participants in this workshop - yes, that means YOU - are invited to send your work, along with mine, to Weetacon 7. The works will be auctioned off to raise money for Paul's Pantry.

Founded in 1984 by Leo Frigo, Paul'sPantry of Green Bay, WI provides food to low income families throughout Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Without help from Paul's Pantry, many of these residents would have to choose between food and rent, and it's been estimated that Paul's Pantry is preventing homelessness for thousands of Wisconsin residents. Since Paul's Pantry opened, it has provided over 76.4 million pounds of food to folks whose income is at or below the level of poverty.

While Paul's Pantry does receive surplus food (dented cans, days-old baked goods, leftover restaurant goods, etc) from the community, the Pantry is in constant need of cash to pay its operating costs. The facility's vehicles, used to collect food and also deliver food for house-bound folks, use approximately $600 in fuel per month. In addition, Paul's Pantry also purchases food staples such as peanut butter and jelly and fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure that the impoverished will have the bare minimum nutrition regardless of the irregular nature of community food donations. The heat to warm the facility and electricity consumed by the lights and the walk-in coolers amounts to another $5000 per month. Between this and other operating costs, it takes over $30K a month to keep Paul's Pantry doors open. 

For the last four years, Weetacon attendees have raised money to help Paul's Pantry with these operating costs by hosting a raffle, with 100% of the gross fundraising going directly to Paul's Pantry (ie. we do not withhold any funds raised to cover the costs of hosting the raffle). In the past, we've raised almost $5000 through this raffle and this year, we're hoping to beat our record, but we can't do that without your help. We'd love to highlight your artwork or merchandise donation in our raffle! In return for your generosity, we'll devote a page on our Weetacon site to your item, complete with any logos, link-backs to websites or Etsy stores, and introductory publicity that you'd like to share. We'll also send out a Tweet pointing out your donation and thank you in our printed program. Thank you so much for considering to help support this very worthwhile cause!