MONROE - Some food pantries in the area are sitting pretty this holiday season, thanks mainly to local donations.
Staff members at local area food pantries are pleased with the contributions they have received so far this season. But they are asking people keep up the good work as they enter into the new year.
"We have been very blessed," said Maynard Heins at the Green County Inter-Church Food Pantry in Monroe.
Heins said churches, schools, businesses and individuals have all contributed generously to the food pantry, enough to keep the shelves stocked.
Pastor Pat Soddy said the Albany Food Panty at the Albany Methodist Church has been receiving "good, generous donations.
"In a small community, people take care of each other," she added.
Local donations are imperative to keeping food pantries stocked and operational, said Pastor Mary Gafner, who oversees the Green Cares Food Pantry near Monticello.
"The donations have been totally, absolutely marvelous," Gafner said.
But she worries the generosity may decline after the holiday season.
Food pantries often fall back on local donations, because they cannot always rely on shipments from USDA and purchases from Second Harvest to keep the shelves full with foods for a balanced diet.
"We never know what we will be getting from USDA," Gafner said.
Green Cares sees between 175 and 190 families a month. Green County Inter-Church Pantry sees about the same number.
Gafner said Green Cares recently has seen an increase in the number of clients, particularly of the elderly and disabled, and food boxes are meant to supply food for just 10 days.
Clients may receive USDA foods only once a month, but when the panty doesn't know what those foods might be or how much they will receive, staff work hard to supplement food boxes with nutritious foods that compliments them.
To supplement the USDA rations, Green Cares spends about $2,000 to $3,000 per month at Second Harvest, where food is sold to pantries for a fraction of the cost. Monetary donations to Green Cares go toward the purchasing costs.
This year "marvelous monetary donations have come in from local businesses and organizations," Gafner said.
This holiday season, Gafner said, two special donations - hams and cheese - have come in to be distributed to families, in addition to their allotted food boxes.
"Wisconsin Cheese Group made sure all our clients got a ham," Gafner said, "and from Maple Leaf Cheese factory every one of our clients will also get a one-pound package of good cheese - six-year Cheddar or Emmentaler (Swiss)."
Green Cares also received a well-maintained, used van from TDS this year, Gafner said. Pantry staff will use the van to make their weekly trips to collect food donations. Staff had been using their own vehicles, trailers or "whatever they had," Gafner said.
"The generosity of the county has been tremendous," she added. "It's been one lovely thing after another."
Staff members at local area food pantries are pleased with the contributions they have received so far this season. But they are asking people keep up the good work as they enter into the new year.
"We have been very blessed," said Maynard Heins at the Green County Inter-Church Food Pantry in Monroe.
Heins said churches, schools, businesses and individuals have all contributed generously to the food pantry, enough to keep the shelves stocked.
Pastor Pat Soddy said the Albany Food Panty at the Albany Methodist Church has been receiving "good, generous donations.
"In a small community, people take care of each other," she added.
Local donations are imperative to keeping food pantries stocked and operational, said Pastor Mary Gafner, who oversees the Green Cares Food Pantry near Monticello.
"The donations have been totally, absolutely marvelous," Gafner said.
But she worries the generosity may decline after the holiday season.
Food pantries often fall back on local donations, because they cannot always rely on shipments from USDA and purchases from Second Harvest to keep the shelves full with foods for a balanced diet.
"We never know what we will be getting from USDA," Gafner said.
Green Cares sees between 175 and 190 families a month. Green County Inter-Church Pantry sees about the same number.
Gafner said Green Cares recently has seen an increase in the number of clients, particularly of the elderly and disabled, and food boxes are meant to supply food for just 10 days.
Clients may receive USDA foods only once a month, but when the panty doesn't know what those foods might be or how much they will receive, staff work hard to supplement food boxes with nutritious foods that compliments them.
To supplement the USDA rations, Green Cares spends about $2,000 to $3,000 per month at Second Harvest, where food is sold to pantries for a fraction of the cost. Monetary donations to Green Cares go toward the purchasing costs.
This year "marvelous monetary donations have come in from local businesses and organizations," Gafner said.
This holiday season, Gafner said, two special donations - hams and cheese - have come in to be distributed to families, in addition to their allotted food boxes.
"Wisconsin Cheese Group made sure all our clients got a ham," Gafner said, "and from Maple Leaf Cheese factory every one of our clients will also get a one-pound package of good cheese - six-year Cheddar or Emmentaler (Swiss)."
Green Cares also received a well-maintained, used van from TDS this year, Gafner said. Pantry staff will use the van to make their weekly trips to collect food donations. Staff had been using their own vehicles, trailers or "whatever they had," Gafner said.
"The generosity of the county has been tremendous," she added. "It's been one lovely thing after another."