The First Presbyterian Food Pantry is hard at work to make sure that community members have food when they need it. For the year 2024 to January 22, 2025 we have served 1800 families totaling 4250 people. This has often left us with very little food. We do continue to receive 2 food deliveries – one from the Racine County Food Bank and one from Racine/Kenosha Community Action. Racine County Food Bank provides us with many canned goods and some hygiene products. Racine/ Kenosha Community Action provides us with canned goods and also where we get most of our meat. Our clients get to pick their meat – one choice most months. They have the opportunity to take a box of canned goods or not take it. Why wouldn’t they take one? Usually this is because they have received canned goods at another pantry or a gift box.

We have been working with the District Attorney’s office this year in providing community service hours for young men who have served time for the first time. Once they get out as part of their parole, they are required to do community service hours. The men have been very helpful in carrying boxes to client’s cars, lifting coolers, and moving tables. These men are trying to improve their lives so we are giving them a small opportunity to do so.

Through your monetary donations, I have been able to purchase items we don’t get in either delivery – toilet paper, bath soap and dish soap. I have also been able to purchase food when our cupboards run low. Amazon is where I get the toilet paper, bath soap and dish soap. It has been cheaper and easier to purchase the quantity I need. With your donations I have spent $4, 977.57 on these supplies. The clients get one bar of soap and one roll of toilet paper per visit. I have also spent $1,999.17 at Aldi Foods for canned goods and cereal to supplement what we get from our food deliveries. This is not possible without your generosity, so THANK YOU!!!

In June of 2025 we will have been open for 10 years! I have appreciated the church members that have volunteered to pack groceries, unload the trucks, help with inventory and just provided the money to keep us supplied.

The food pantry is an important part of our church mission in the community. Several pantries in the downtown area have closed since the pandemic. We are the only one east of Memorial Drive and south of the Root River. Many of our clients walk to the pantry. Some do drive because we are also open at night.

Submitted by,

LuAnn Hansen