GREEN BAY (WFRV) - On Friday, Local 5 was out and about, petting pups, pulling weeds and making meals across our northeast Wisconsin community.
It was all part of Nexstar’s 29th Annual Founders Day of Caring, an event that occurs every June. The company-wide initiative sees over 200 Nexstar stations nationwide giving back to their communities.
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This year, the Local 5 team was separated into three corners of our community, giving back.
The first stop was at Happily Ever Animal Sanctuary, where volunteers spent time with furry friends, as well as members of the community. Multiple animals found a forever home while Local 5 was there.
Anchor Kaitlin Corbett cited her care for the community while participating in the event.
“This means a lot because it shows we are not just on air every day like people are used to seeing us, but we care about our community and care about these organizations, which is why we are here today,” Corbett said.
Happily Ever After’s mission is to have members of the community come forward to help create solutions.
“That mission is in action on a day like today, where we have WFRV come in to volunteer,” Marcus Reitz, Happily Ever After’s Director of Branding and Development, said. “It’s members of humanity are coming forward to say I want to be a part of the solution.”
Volunteers in Door County worked in the gardens of DC Farm for Vets, an organization focused on teaching veterans how to live sustainably. President and CEO Jacob Vandenplas said it started because of what he learned during his time in the service.
“It was an honor to serve, and we took an oath to never leave a man behind,” Vandenplas said. “We are continuing that mission here back at home.”
Finally, Local 5 volunteers were also seen at Rooted In, a nonprofit in Green Bay that focuses on making locally sourced meals for families in the community.
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Today, Local 5 made lasagna and packaged food items like oatmeal, biscuits, and waffles, making over 200 pounds of food that will go back into families in need.
Whether it was caring for animals, serving veterans, or feeding neighbors, it is clear these initiatives go beyond the news desk.
