City of Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc has had the blues going on four years now, and Snyder Insurance couldn't be happier about it.

In 2008, the company initiated a communitywide food drive it calls True Blue Day when Snyder encourages local businesses to permit employees to wear blue jeans to work in exchange for a donation of a nonperishable food item or contribution of any size to benefit the Oconomowoc Area Food Pantry.

"We've had such a great response that we are doing it again this year," said Megan Welsh, who helps coordinate the event.

This year's, True Blue Day is Friday, Nov. 14, and participation among area businesses is growing.

Last year, 15 local companies joined the effort and Snyder Insurance hopes to increase that number to 20 this year.

"You don't have to have a specific number of people in your company to participate," Welsh explained.

The effort began after three employees expressed concern about the state of the economy and the impact it might have on the food pantry.

"They wanted to hold a food drive to bring more awareness to the need and help stock up the pantry for the winter. Our food pantry needs have gotten even greater since then," Welsh explained.

So employees of Snyder Insurance, which has served as a collection spot for the food pantry for the last 14 years, came up with idea for True Blue Day.

"When we looked up the meaning of true blue, the definition said, 'loyal and unwavering to the support of a cause.' That seemed appropriate," she said.

Welsh said the concept is simple, "Wear jeans; feed families. It's that easy."

To make it even easier, Snyder employees will visit participating workplaces to pick up the donations and deliver them to the food pantry.

"It is an easy way for many to do their small part to make a great impact," she explained.

Welsh said it is difficult to determine an amount that has been donated as a result of True Blue Day.

"It's hard to say how much because it doesn't all come in at once but it is a major 'foodraiser'. Just the drop offs here and pick ups that we did last year filled six vehicles. Some businesses deliver their own," she noted.

Welsh hopes more decide to join in the effort this year.

"Wouldn't it be great if 50 businesses participated this year?" she asked. "Working together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things."

Extraordinary things are exactly what's needed to fill the dwindling supply at the food pantry.

"The needs are still there; the busiest season is right in front of us," she said.

Lois and Bill Jackson, who lead the volunteer effort at the food pantry, agree.

"We have been so busy lately and are registering many new families," Lois Jackson said.

Last year in 2010, the Oconomowoc Area Food Pantry served 3,830families that included 6,672 adults and 4,567 children.

"We registered 272 new families during that year. Our total individuals were 11,239. So far in 2011, through September, we served 2,926 families, 5,169 adults, 3,551 children and registered 193 new families. These figures represent a 6.1 percent increase," thus far, Jackson said.

In addition to high demand, supply in the form of donations, has been down.

"We are purchasing almost all the food we pack into our pre-packed bags for our clients and our inventory has never been this low," Jackson said.

"Each year, November is always our busiest month for the number of clients coming in, with December the second busiest," she explained.

Snyder Insurance has made it very easy for interested companies to participate.

Just email megan@snyder-ins.com and let her know three things: contact name and name of business; how many employees you have; I f you will be dropping off the food items at Snyder Insurance from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7., or if you need a pick up.

You can help

Oconomowoc Food Pantry coordinator Lois Jackson said the items the pantry is most in need of include:

Toothpaste

Shampoo

Bar soap

Toilet paper

Laundry soap

Dish soap

Deodorant

Diapers

Canned beef stew

Canned fruit

Jell-O

Canned soup

Canned tuna

Nonperishable items

The Oconomowoc Food Pantry is open from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Snyder Insurance has daily drop off hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and on from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

For more information, call Megan Welsh at (262) 567-0288.