A total of 882 pounds of food was collected at the No King protest on June 14, and will be donated across various food pantries across Marquette County. (Photo courtesy of JoAnn Tadgerson)

MARQUETTE – The No Kings protest in Marquette on June 14 saw thousands protest against President Donald Trump, but behind the scenes, 882 pounds of food was donated to locals in need. Yoopers Unite and Indivisible came together in a food collection effort that took three days to count and sort all of the food collected.

“At the No Kings event, we raised nearly 900 pounds of food,” said food donation coordinator JoAnn Tadgerson. “Since we started doing weekly, in April, we have donated roughly one ton of food, household and hygiene items.”

Part of the donation came from nearly $400 raised in cash donations which was used to purchase more food and round out the variety of items that were set to be donated across Marquette County.

“This particular donation was divided up and went to The New Free Store, which received household and hygiene supplies; and the food was divided and brought to The Negaunee/Palmer St. Vincent’s DePaul, The Ishpeming Salvation Army, St. Francis Connection Center at KI and the NMU Food Pantry,” Tadgerson said. “In the past, we have donated as far as the Crystal Falls food pantry and most all of our local pantries: Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Gwinn and including the Women’s Shelter.”

Three people manned the donation station while others were directing the hundreds and hundreds of cars going in to donate food and or money. There were so many donors that the number is impossible to guess, Tadgerson said, but she is so proud of the community for coming together to help those in need, as there is a very large and silent amount of people who rely on food pantries.

“According to the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, a poverty study), 41 percent of working families in Marquette County are food insecure,” said Tadgerson. “In these uncertain times, when you don’t know if you are making a difference in Lansing or D.C. by calling, writing or demonstrating, this is something tangible we can do to help our community. I feel very proud to be surrounded by this group of people who are so dedicated to helping others.”

Those looking to donate or volunteer can contact Tadgerson at uniteyoopers@gmail.com.

“We would love to see more people and businesses get involved,” Tadgerson said.