Our Story

In 2025, UW-Extension and Forest County CAN worked with Feeding America on ideas for a new food pantry location in Forest County. NEWCAP was closing its' Crandon operations, including their food pantry. The Town of Laona was identified as a priority area due to the central location within the county, no existing grocery store and no existing food pantry. 

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As owners of a vacant clinic building in Laona, the Richard & Mary Anne Connor family was contacted as a potential food pantry location. The clinic building, known as the Ovitz-Castaldo building, provided space for a medical clinic when Laona's hospital closed in the 1980's. Built by Richard and Mary Anne Connor and named after the town's two doctors, the building has been home to Laona Pharmacy for many years. The family agreed that the location would be perfect and decided to donate the space. 

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Now, the Ovitz-Castaldo Building provides space for a countywide food pantry serving Forest County community members most in need of food and essentials. As a centralized Forest County location, Helping Hands of Forest County's Laona food pantry will be supported through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) along with private donations, supportive families, business sponsorships and other non-profits. 

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A special thank you to Tammy Collins for maintaining a relationship with TEFAP, filing for non-profit status and planting the seed which grew into Helping Hands of Forest County. 

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