OSHKOSH - The food pantry at Emmanuel Church of Christ started 28 years ago in a basement. Today, it takes up a whole section of the church.
Located at 1306 Michigan St., the pantry is completely run by volunteers. It's served more than 1,000 families in the last four years, said Lori Holland, the church's administrative assistant. And it relies on community support.
The pantry always needs staples like pasta sauce, cereal, peanut butter, produce and meats, Holland said. The church also accepts monetary donations, which people can bring in or mail, she said.
"We couldn't make it without everyone's help," Holland said.
The pantry is open three days each week, and clients can pick up food there once a month. Food is pre-bagged for people to pick up, Holland said.
The pantry has grown considerably in the past 12 years thanks to its manager, Gail Hable, Holland said. Hable took on the job in 2006.
People come to the food pantry for all different reasons, Hable said. He's seen older people who can't make it on social security alone or people that are injured use its services.
"We don't turn anyone away," Hable said. "Anyone who calls gets food."
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Similarly The Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, 2551 Jackson St., runs with the help of volunteers and donations.
The pantry provides food to elderly people, refugee families and people with disabilities who may not be able to work, said Executive Director Tom Fojtik. People experiencing major transitions such as job loss or moving may also utilize the pantry, he said.
The pantry relies on monetary donations but also accepts food items. It needs canned soup, low-sugar cereal, canned fruit (not fruit cocktail) and meats, Fojtik said. People can volunteer their time at the pantry as well.
People can utilize the Oshkosh food pantry once a month, plus one emergency shop, for a maximum of 13 times a year.
According to 2017 data from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, more than 10% of Winnebago County residents struggle with food insecurity. This amounts to 17,140 residents who may not know where their next meal is coming from.
Since 2010, readers have donated more than $5 million to provide food for families in need across central and eastern Wisconsin through USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's Stock the Shelves Campaign. The network partners with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to distribute donations to pantries across the state, including the following in the Oshkosh area:
- Oshkosh Area Community Pantry
- Emmanuel United Church of Christ
- Omro Community Food Pantry
- The Salvation Army Oshkosh
This year, the campaign aims to raise enough money for 1 million meals for struggling families.
Contact Lydia Slattery at 920-573-8725 or lslattery@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @lydiaslattery.
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