Nov. 17, 2025
A fundraiser to support the food distribution initiatives of the Shalom Center in Kenosha and the Sharing Center in Trevor will be held Saturday evening, Nov. 22nd at the Union Park Tavern.
“The WGTD Full Plate Thanksgiving Benefit” is a collaboration between the radio station, the Kenosha tavern and “The Deadliners”, one of the groups that’ll be performing.
The “Deadliners” lead singer is Jennie Tunkieicz, a former WGTD program host. "We're excited to partner with WGTD, the Union Park Tavern, two vital community organizations, and some outstanding musicians to help fill a crucial need in Kenosha County," Tunkieicz said. "I hope you'll come out and join us on Nov. 22 and help us to help fill plates for Thanksgiving and beyond."
Also scheduled to perform are “Old Brown Shoes” and singer/song writer Brent Mitchell.
WGTD General Manager David Cole said: “It’s a natural for WGTD, as part of Gateway Technical College, to be involved in something like this because we’re all about community service and we know there’s a great need.
The fundraiser will begin at 6 p.m. There’s a $5 cover charge.
Union Park Tavern co-owners Ben DeSmidt and Angela Cook have pledged to donate the evening’s beverage sales to the non-profits.
Revenue raised from the cover charge will also be funneled to the agencies. Any donation above the admission charge will be gladly accepted.
The tavern is located in Kenosha at 4520 8th Ave.
Among its many services, the Shalom Center operates a food pantry and a soup kitchen at 4314 39th Ave. In 2024, nearly 14,000 unique households received food while the soup kitchen served more than 69,000 meals, according to Shalom Center Executive Director Esther Roberts. “We believe access to food is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right,” Roberts says.
The Sharing Center in Trevor has been meeting the needs of rural Kenosha County families for more than 40 years with an array of services that includes a food pantry. In 2024, about 7,000 people received services, according to Executive Director Sharon Pomaville. “Each year, beginning in November, the Center experiences a surge in families seeking assistance,” she said.
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