MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching, and families are preparing for an expensive meal. According to a Wells Fargo analysis, a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people will cost about $79\u2014down 0.4% from last year.<\/p>\n
But community groups in Marquette County, including the United Way and Community Action Alger-Marquette, say they continue to see rising food insecurity. Andrew Rickauer, Executive Director of the United Way of Marquette County, shares the latest statistics on families struggling financially.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Marquette County, the ALICE population is 43%, and ALICE is Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. These are the working-class families that are making those rations; we\u2019ve seen a huge increase in the need across the board,\u201d Rickauer said.<\/p>\n
Gretchen Paavola oversees community nutrition management for Community Action Alger-Marquette. She says they\u2019re looking for more drivers for their \u2018Meals on Wheels\u2019 program due to an increase in seniors using that program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had an influx of the Meals on Wheels inquiries for the home-delivered meal program, and that\u2019s simply because a lot of their SNAP benefits have been cut recently and that\u2019s obviously been a very difficult thing for them to manage,\u201d Paavola said.<\/p>\n
Rickauer reminds the public that food insecurity extends beyond the holiday season.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood insecurity doesn\u2019t happen just on Thanksgiving or Christmas, and it doesn\u2019t happen just on Tuesdays or Fridays; it\u2019s every day, throughout the day,\u201d Rickauer said.<\/p>\n
You can help feed a hungry neighbor and support food pantries across Upper Michigan; the TV6 Canathon is underway. You can donate online at the TV6 Canathon website or donate non-perishable food items at drop-off locations across the Upper Peninsula.<\/p>\n
The video above will feature the TV6 livestream until staff can clip the corresponding story, if available, from broadcasts or other TV6 content. You can subscribe to our YouTube page or download TV6+ to stream the latest local news and weather.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 WLUC. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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