Drew Sowle Food for Friends giveaway creates lasting legacy

OCONTO – While many people look forward to the time off of work and away from school that comes with the holiday season, this loss of stability can be jarring for families in need.

As Oconto High School Mental Health Navigator and Homeless Liaison Hilary Trepanier explained, late-December is a critical time for the Oconto community.

“The [Bread By the Bay food pantry] is closed for more than two weeks — they are open the first and third Tuesday of the month — and kids are out of school for more than two weeks,” Trepanier said.

Trepanier planned the Drew Sowle Food for Friends giveaway at the Oconto High School on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, not only to provide support to community members in need, but to honor the memory of Sowle.

Sowle unexpectedly passed away in April, 2025, after suffering a heart attack. Following this tragedy, Trepanier — whose husband, Justin, was a close friend of Sowle’s — approached his wife, Ali, and his father, Glenn, about doing something in Sowle’s honor.

Planning for the food drive giveaway began in September, 2025, with a goal of feeding at least 200 families and individuals. The event was held in partnership with Sowle’s long-time employer Schreiber Foods.

Trepanier explained, “The event was created not only to continue the kindness Drew lived by, but also to encourage community members to prioritize their health by speaking with their doctors about calcium score screenings.”

“It was mentioned at Drew’s funeral service to get your calcium score test to prevent any family from having to experience this heartache… Many of Drew’s family and friends did get [the test] since then. For less than $100 you can have the appointment locally and be in and out in 15 minutes,” she continued.

The community came together to promote advancement for all through the Drew Sowle Food for Friends giveaway.

After receiving a grant from Schreiber Foods to help begin the drive, Trepanier then began partnering with local churches to host cereal drives and area businesses to collect hygiene items. Words spread and donations came in, which allowed the event to expand and reach even more families.

Additionally, monetary donations allowed for the purchase of essential hygiene items like razors, toilet paper and nail clippers.

More than 50 volunteers contributed their time over the course of the weekend to making the Drew Sowle Food for Friends giveaway a success. That Friday, they packed the food and hygiene bags and on Saturday they assisted with verifying addresses, conducting surveys, loading vehicles and making home deliveries.

During the deliveries, Trepanier shared that residents were grateful for the help they received, with some being left in tears.

“As residents realized just how many items they were receiving, many were left in tears. Several shared pieces of their stories — overwhelming medical bills, family members battling cancer, children home from school for two weeks and the constant stress of making ends meet. Some expressed relief that, for once, they didn’t have to worry about groceries, and that this support might finally allow them to afford a Christmas present for their child,” Trepanier said.

She continued, “The moment was a powerful reminder that this assistance meant far more than food — it meant hope, dignity and a brief sense of peace during an incredibly difficult time.”

Community partners, organizations and businesses that made this possible included: First Presbyterian Church, Oconto Gospel Chapel, Holy Trinity Parish, First American Lutheran Church, Schreiber Foods and its employees, LeTourneau Plastics employees, Unlimited Services employees, The Chiropractic Advantage, YakFab Metals Inc., Oconto County School Supply Drive, Winter Wonderland, Elks Ladies, Pensaukee Cares, Oconto Kiwanis, Bond Foundation, Oconto American Legion, Dedicated Contractors, NorthLakes Community Clinic, McDonald’s, the Class of 2005, Rich and Jamie Ellman students as well as district students and staff.

Individual donors included Timmy and Julie Eichman; Brad and Mandy Leonard; and Jamie and John Walker. A special thanks was extended to Rachel Miklaszewicz, Pan-O-Gold, Kemps, Hometown Grocers (formerly Thompson’s) as well as the City of Oconto for providing traffic cones to help keep volunteers and participants safe.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you. The support from our community has been incredible, and these donations allowed us to help more families than we ever imagined,” Trepanier concluded.