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Rotary Winter Wonderland reports 32,000 food items, strong volunteer turnout in 20th season
Summary
Organizers of the Rotary Winter Wonderland told the Marshfield Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee that the event collected about 32,000 food items in the most recent season, bringing the program total to roughly 900,000 food items and enabling an anticipated $50,000 payout to community groups after expenses.
Organizers of the Rotary Winter Wonderland told the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee on March 12 that last season’s event collected about 32,000 food items and generated more than expected volunteer and business support during buildout.
Danielle Nash, one of the event’s longtime organizers, said the 32,000 food items brought the project’s cumulative total to about 900,000 items and that the group expects to distribute about $50,000 in cash after expenses this year — bringing monetary distributions to roughly $650,000 since the project began. Nash said the program serves about 30 food pantries in the region.
“We brought in 32,000 food items, which brings our total to 900,000 since we started. We serve 30 food pantries,” Danielle Nash said. Organizers credited new strategies this year — including weekday work crews from businesses and corporate volunteer time-off programs — with helping the buildout run more efficiently when volunteers were otherwise occupied on weekends.
Elle Nash and Phil Phillips, who also spoke for the organizing team, thanked zoo staff and other long-term partners for logistical support during setup and takedown. Organizers noted the group adapted to an earlier frost and to other operational challenges but described the season overall as successful, with no security incidents reported and relatively few lost items.
The organizers said they are entering their 20th season and plan ongoing off-season repairs, inventory work and outreach to recruit volunteers and business work crews. They also reported continued interest from community groups (for example, Marshall Pickleball and the Special Olympians) that helped with food collection evenings and takedown work.
Organizers asked the committee to continue supporting the event’s relationship with the zoo and to publicize the program on city channels when appropriate; a committee member asked Parks staff to post event photos to the department’s Facebook page.
Rotary Winter Wonderland statistics (as reported to committee)
- Food items collected last season: ~32,000. - Cumulative food items since project start: ~900,000. - Number of food pantries served: 30. - Expected cash payout this year after expenses: approximately $50,000 (cumulative cash returned to community ~ $650,000). - Volunteers: combinations of long-term volunteers, business work crews, Special Olympians and community groups; organizers reported multiple weekdays where 30–40 business volunteers contributed two-hour shifts during buildout.
The committee thanked the organizers and praised the long-running partnership with zoo staff, volunteers and community groups.
