BELOIT (WKOW) — A Beloit food pantry is thanking the community for its strong response when the pantry was in need — and right in time for the holiday season.
“What a difference 2 weeks makes,” Caritas Executive Director Max Dodson said.
When we last visited Caritas on October 16, the food pantry was in a tough spot.
“Things were a little bleak back then,” Dodson said.
An August accident totaled Caritas’ only truck, straining operations that were already stretched thin: 600 families per month turned into 700 served by the pantry after the Save-A-Lot on Park Avenue closed.
But now — “We have a truck. We have a full warehouse. We have a commitment for more to come in,” Dodson said.
Immediately following the pantry’s call for help, the community responded.
“I had a gentleman from Janesville walk through our door Thursday morning and say, ‘I saw your broadcast,'” Dodson said. “And he handed me a check.”
A week later — another donation, left in the middle of the night.
1,800 cans of food were left outside the Caritas building in honor of nearly 1,800 American POWs who died when a World War II submarine sank 75 years ago.
“Anonymously giving this in memory of their fallen,” Dodson said.
As for the truck, “The Sunday after the broadcast, I was in church,” Dodson said. “And this wonderful lady, who I would consider the least likely to have information, came to me and said, ‘Max, have you seen this?'”
It was an online listing for a truck in Caritas’ price range. Now, it’s in their parking lot.
“It’s not just this building,” Dodson said. “It’s not just the people who come through our door. We get out to the community and give them what they need.”
With the holidays right around the corner, Dodson said Caritas needs the truck now more than ever and will be operating strong until the end of the year.
City of Beloit officials say the former Save-A-Lot property is still up for sale.
