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Built to serve: Oshkosh champions commitment to community through compassion

September 16, 2024

 

Our annual Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event took place on Thursday, September 12, 2024, demonstrating the power of community and compassion. This event brought together team members and community volunteers with a shared purpose: to combat food insecurity in Northeast Wisconsin. Together, volunteers packaged 210,000 pounds of staple foods that will soon be distributed to families in need throughout the region.


A legacy of fighting hunger

Oshkosh has been a proud advocate for alleviating food scarcity through Feed the Body, Feed the Soul. Our commitment goes beyond delivering products and services; we are deeply invested in nurturing the welfare and wellbeing of our communities. This initiative reflects our people first culture and the belief that we are better together.

"This event really does represent how our community is better together” says Oshkosh Corporation CEO, John Pfeifer. “Our team members and volunteers are truly making a difference in people’s lives.”

Male stacking a box while volunteering at Oshkosh Corporation's Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event
John Pfeifer, Oshkosh Corporation CEO, volunteering at Feed the Body, Feed the Soul.
Rice packed in a box from Oshkosh Corporation's Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event
Volunteers work together to pack staple foods for families in need, including rice.

Feed the Body, Feed the Soul: A mission of impact

Our Feed the Body, Feed the Soul initiative embodies Oshkosh’s ethos of making a difference in people’s lives, especially of those who need it most. With significant support from passionate volunteers, this event has grown into a powerful force against hunger, in collaboration with Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin. The program's unique approach — combining food packing with live music — infused a spirit of joy and solidarity among participants.

This year's impact

This year’s event saw Oshkosh team members and volunteers from other sponsor organizations including U.S. Venture, Amcor, 4imprint, United Healthcare, Gallagher Insurance and many more. These volunteer efforts resulted in the distribution of essential food support to hundreds of families, profoundly impacting household food security across Northeast Wisconsin. Partnering with Feeding America and local pantries, we're driving meaningful change through community empowerment.

“This event is an opportunity to come together from any part of our community – as a company, a team or as an individual – to work in service of our neighbors and help end hunger,” said Jodie Larsen, vice president of community engagement for Oshkosh Corporation. 

Group of people volunteering at Oshkosh Corporation's Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event
A group of people volunteering at Feed the Body, Feed the Soul.
Bucket of rice with Oshkosh branded scoop at Oshkosh Corporation's Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event
Oshkosh rice scoop, invented and designed by youth apprentices to save time and allow volunteers to pack more.
Female singer and group of people volunteering at Oshkosh Corporation's Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event
Musical entertainment provided at the event to feed the souls of volunteers.

Looking ahead: The power of unified effort

The success of this year’s Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event reinforces what we can achieve through unified efforts. 

Learn more about our continued mission to fight food insecurity by visiting our Feed the Body, Feed the Soul page.