Food Pantry at O.H. Schultz Elementary School in Mishicot, December 22, 2016 (WLUK/Eric Peterson)
MISHICOT (WLUK) -- People in the Manitowoc County Village of Mishicot are Making A Difference. There are helping those in need, through a food pantry, based in the elementary school.
Just off the main hallway at O.H. Schultz Elementary School in Mishicot, rows of canned goods line the walls of an old office and storage room. Parents group leader Jill Yindra came up with the idea for a food pantry based at the school.
"When I looked at the disadvantaged families in this area, with a school of ony 400, about 100 families that qualify. To me there was a need in the area," said Jill Yindra, Parents Group.
The pantry is open to families with children enrolled in the district. Once a month, about 10 familes pick up what they need.
"It's very confidential. It's a very low-key approach. There is no rules or regulations for you to use the pantry. If you need it, it is here," said Yindra.
The Mishicot pantry started about a year ago. People in the community responded. As donations poured in, the room, needed an upgrade.
"What we did was basically clean it out. We had existing shelves on both sides, and local businesses donated the rest of the shelving for us," said Yindra.
A freezer was donated.
"We have it filled with ground beef, and recently we just had hot dogs made," said Yindra.
School leaders say food from drives throughout the year, now goes to the pantry.
"I'm sure that there are schools that are suffering from poverty conditions, but we felt that the need was significant enough in our district that we should do something," said Eric Nelson, O.H. Schultz Elementary School Principal.
"Volunteering, always helping people has always been near and dear to my heart. And knowing that if I can put a smile on their kid's face when they can pick out a simple box of macaroni, or a toothbrush, is very rewarding to me," said Yindra.
The Mishicot Pantry continues to take donations. Friday, it will mark one year of being in business.
