The eighth annual ‘Feed the Body, Feed the Soul’ event hosted by Oshkosh Corporation, in partnership with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, returns to Oshkosh on Thursday, Sept. 18. This 12-hour celebration of volunteerism and community will feature over 1,000 volunteers coming together to package and prepare 252,000 pounds of rice, a high-demand and nutritious food staple at pantries throughout the state.

Since its launch in 2017 by Oshkosh Corporation, ‘Feed the Body, Feed the Soul’ has become a signature event for friends, families, co-workers, and business leaders. Generous local sponsors fund the purchase of rice, which is then secured by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Hundreds of community volunteers then come together to package the product, which is ultimately distributed to food pantries throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

The event will take place at Sunnyview Expo Center (500 E. County Road Y) in Oshkosh from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT and will include live music by NEW Dueling Pianos throughout the day to feed volunteers’ souls and keep energy levels high.

“Each year, I’m inspired by the heart and generosity of the hundreds of wonderful volunteers who make this day possible,” said Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin President and CEO, Patti Habeck. “Feed the Body, Feed the Soul is more than just a food packing event – it’s a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to care for our neighbors and invest in the health of our communities.”

According to Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap report, 1-in-8 people in Eastern Wisconsin are currently experiencing food insecurity, including 1-in-6 children. Over the past seven years, this event has helped package more than one million pounds of rice, strengthening the local emergency food network by ensuring local pantries are stocked with shelf-stable, high-demand foods.

“At Oshkosh, we believe in putting people first. When people come together with a shared purpose, extraordinary things happen,” shared Jodie Larsen, Vice President of Community Engagement at Oshkosh Corporation. “What we’ve accomplished alongside our community partners isn’t just about numbers, it’s about nourishing hope, building connections and showing up for one another in meaningful ways.”

This event is made possible thanks to the generosity of nearly 1,200 volunteers, and dozens of community sponsors including U.S Venture, Amcor, 4imprint, J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc., United Healthcare, Bergstrom Automotive, Community First Credit Union, Great Northern Cares, Lockton, Werner Electric Supply, Alliance Laundry Systems, CDW Corporation, Fox Communities Credit Union, Menasha Corporation, Omni Glass and Paint, Valley Express, and NM Transfer Co, Inc.

For more information on ‘Feed the Body, Feed the Soul’, visit OshkoshCorp.com/Feed.