Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser Set for April 25 in New London
A Wine and Cheese Tasting will benefit the Rural Health Initiative in Waupaca County. The third annual event will be from 7-10 p.m. Fri., April 25, at Crystal Falls Banquet Hall in New London. The Wine and Cheese Tasting will feature 40 kinds of wine, seven beers from Pigeon River Brewing and 40 types of cheese. Uptown will provide the evening’s entertainment.
The Rural Health Initiative in Waupaca County provides basic health education and screenings to farmers with outreach coordinators making home visits to make sure they and their families have access to basic health services. Surveys show that four out of five farmers lack health insurance that covers checkups and preventative care and 41 percent of dairy farmers have high deductible health plans that only include major medical coverage.
“Bringing preventative healthcare and screenings to farmers right on the farm is so important since it’s something so many of them need,” said Rhonda Strebel, executive director of the Rural Healthcare Initiative. “The money we raise at the Wine and Cheese Event will go directly to helping us get this essential service to our farmers.”
The goal is to raise $13,000 at this year’s event, she said. Last year, $10,600 was raised.
Tickets for the Wine and Cheese Tasting Event are $25 each and are available at Premier Community Bank locations in Bear Creek, Iola, Scandinavia, Waupaca, Manawa, King, Fremont, and Marion or First State Bank locations in New London, Clintonville, Manawa, Waupaca, and Dale. The event is sponsored by Larsen Cooperative, First State Bank, ThedaCare Physicians, and Waupaca Area Dairy Promotions.
In 2003, ThedaCare and Shawano Medical Center launched the Rural Health Initiative in Shawano County in partnership with the county extension service, the county public health department, and local schools, with regional agribusiness collaborative and financial partners. In 2012, the initiative expanded into Outagamie and Waupaca counties. In late 2013, the program expanded into Marathon County.
For more information about the Rural Health Initiative, please visit www.wiruralhealth.org.
