FOX LAKE — A food pantry that began as a Thanksgiving food drive plans to move to a new location, thanks to a donation from Kwik Trip, but volunteers and other donations are still needed to keep the project moving forward.
Cindy Heller helps manage the Living Hope Community Church food pantry. She said the pantry’s roots began a few years ago as a Thanksgiving food drive was hosted by the church’s youth group. They asked, “What do we see as a need in the community?”
She said that led to asking, “Why not a food pantry?” Audra Michaels approached the church’s committee for permission to start one. Heller said the pantry started in one classroom at the church, and she took over when Michaels left the area.
The pantry moved into a second room as the need for its services grew.
“We knew that we were going to have to move in May,” Heller said.
So the food pantry reached out to Kwik Trip seeking to lease its former location at 103 Spring St.
The building has been vacant since the company moved to a new location on the west side of town. After years on the market it was being prepared for demolition. Instead of renting the space Kwik Trip offered to donate the building.
“From the outside it appears small,” Heller said. “But it is actually really big.”
The food pantry sought volunteers earlier in November to put a new roof on the building, and Heller said volunteer help is still welcome to help get the building ready to serve as a food pantry, and to help pick up and sort food. Her vision for the space includes a waiting area, play space for children while parents select food, a small space for an office and a kitchen with a couple of stoves.
“I would like to see nutrition classes here,” Heller said. “We get kale, spinach, turnips … people don’t know how to use it. The classes could introduce them to those types of foods.”
The food pantry also needs money to help pay for the building renovation, walk-in coolers, cupboards, stoves and sinks. Another wish list item is a van to pick up food donations.
Heller said the pantry receives food donations from Richelieu Foods in Beaver Dam, Aldi, Wal-Mart and more. The food pantry also gets food through Second Harvest and welcomes donations of peanut butter, canned fruits and juice.
Heller said the Living Hope Food Pantry serves residents of five school districts across three counties including Waupun, Randolph, Markesan, Fall River and Cambria-Friesland.
The Living Hope Food Pantry, still located in the church, 740 W. State St., is open every Monday with hours changing each week.
