Editor's note: A previous version of this story contained incorrect information.
MONROE - Pride: That's what Maynard Heins of the Green County Food Pantry said he thinks keeps most people from taking donated food. Heins said he worries that single fathers, single mothers and anyone thinking about receiving donations will refuse to because their pride gets in the way.
"We get a lot of elderly folks but none of the single parents, but we're here to help everybody," Heins said.
The food pantry had plenty of vegetables and perishables before Thanksgiving, but for the duration of the holiday season the pantry requires more non-perishables: macaroni and cheese, gelatin/pudding, cake and brownie mixes, pasta, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, flour, sugar, pancake syrup, personal care items and any canned meals, meats, vegetables or fruit.
The pantry is open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and is located on 17th Avenue in Monroe, kitty-corner to Anchor Bank and opposite the French Quarter.
Another area food pantry accepting donations is Green Cares Food Pantry at W5198 County C in Monticello, which is open from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Mary Gafner of Green Cares said they buy about $2,000 to $3,000 worth of food per month and can always use donations. She said they have had many more customers coming in despite the economic upturn. They performed a survey of their customers and found that 74 percent were unsure of where their next meal was coming from, an alarming statistic that Gafner said she hopes can be addressed with food donations. They need fruits and vegetables and juice the most, and they always accept canned goods.
"An interesting little myth breaker for you - almost none of our families eat a lot of junk food," Gafner said. "The kind of junk that fills them up quick. No; they need substance."
Other area food pantries include:
St. Vincent DePaul Mobile Food Pantry
Location: 501 1st Ave., Monroe
Open: Every third Thursday of the month from 3 to 4 p.m. Green County residents only, bring your own basket or bag.
Contact: 608-329-7837 for more information
Need: Non-perishables that can be dropped off at St. Vincent's or Green County Food Pantry. Call in advance for fresh produce drop-offs.
Grace Church Food Pantry
Location: 416 2nd St., New Glarus
Open: By appointment only.
Contact: Tamea Sanders, 608-513-1000
Need: Non-perishables, accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Albany Food Pantry
Location: Albany Methodist Church, 500 Park St., Albany
Open: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. (Open to anyone in the community.)
Contact: Pastor Pat Soddy, 608-862-3206
Need: Non-perishables; fresh produce accepted Wednesday nights or when the pantry is open. Call to schedule a drop-off.
Brodhead White Gift Food Pantry
Location: Behind the Senior Center, 1103 West 2nd Ave., Brodhead
Open: 10 to 11:30 a.m. every third Saturday of the month. (Must reside in Brodhead school district.)
Contact: Ruth Brobst, 608-897-4336
Need: Non-perishables, fresh produce accepted when pantry is open. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Argyle Food Pantry
Location: Argyle Lutheran Church, 100 East St., Argyle
Open: 4 to 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. (Must reside in the Argyle school district.)
Contact: Nancy Dammen, 608-543-3451
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Black Hawk Area Food Pantry
Location: South Wayne Fire Department, 107 East Center St., South Wayne
Open: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Thursday of each month. (Must reside in the Black Hawk school district.)
Contact: Donna Larse, 608-439-5317
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce when the pantry is open. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Pecatonica Area Food Pantry
Location: Pecatonica Lutheran Perish, 305 Madison St., Blanchardville
Open: 10 to 11 a.m. every first and third Saturday of each month.
Contact: Jean Christen, 608-967-2349, or Marlys Hittersdorf, 608-523-4047
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Belleville Food Pantry
Location: Belleville Village Hall, 24 West Main St., Belleville
Open: 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays; 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays. (Must have a Belleville address.) Office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: The Village Hall, 608-424-3341
Need: Non-perishables; fresh produce with limited refrigerator and freezer space. Accepts fresh produce Monday afternoons or Thursday mornings.
MONROE - Pride: That's what Maynard Heins of the Green County Food Pantry said he thinks keeps most people from taking donated food. Heins said he worries that single fathers, single mothers and anyone thinking about receiving donations will refuse to because their pride gets in the way.
"We get a lot of elderly folks but none of the single parents, but we're here to help everybody," Heins said.
The food pantry had plenty of vegetables and perishables before Thanksgiving, but for the duration of the holiday season the pantry requires more non-perishables: macaroni and cheese, gelatin/pudding, cake and brownie mixes, pasta, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, flour, sugar, pancake syrup, personal care items and any canned meals, meats, vegetables or fruit.
The pantry is open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and is located on 17th Avenue in Monroe, kitty-corner to Anchor Bank and opposite the French Quarter.
Another area food pantry accepting donations is Green Cares Food Pantry at W5198 County C in Monticello, which is open from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Mary Gafner of Green Cares said they buy about $2,000 to $3,000 worth of food per month and can always use donations. She said they have had many more customers coming in despite the economic upturn. They performed a survey of their customers and found that 74 percent were unsure of where their next meal was coming from, an alarming statistic that Gafner said she hopes can be addressed with food donations. They need fruits and vegetables and juice the most, and they always accept canned goods.
"An interesting little myth breaker for you - almost none of our families eat a lot of junk food," Gafner said. "The kind of junk that fills them up quick. No; they need substance."
Other area food pantries include:
St. Vincent DePaul Mobile Food Pantry
Location: 501 1st Ave., Monroe
Open: Every third Thursday of the month from 3 to 4 p.m. Green County residents only, bring your own basket or bag.
Contact: 608-329-7837 for more information
Need: Non-perishables that can be dropped off at St. Vincent's or Green County Food Pantry. Call in advance for fresh produce drop-offs.
Grace Church Food Pantry
Location: 416 2nd St., New Glarus
Open: By appointment only.
Contact: Tamea Sanders, 608-513-1000
Need: Non-perishables, accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Albany Food Pantry
Location: Albany Methodist Church, 500 Park St., Albany
Open: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. (Open to anyone in the community.)
Contact: Pastor Pat Soddy, 608-862-3206
Need: Non-perishables; fresh produce accepted Wednesday nights or when the pantry is open. Call to schedule a drop-off.
Brodhead White Gift Food Pantry
Location: Behind the Senior Center, 1103 West 2nd Ave., Brodhead
Open: 10 to 11:30 a.m. every third Saturday of the month. (Must reside in Brodhead school district.)
Contact: Ruth Brobst, 608-897-4336
Need: Non-perishables, fresh produce accepted when pantry is open. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Argyle Food Pantry
Location: Argyle Lutheran Church, 100 East St., Argyle
Open: 4 to 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. (Must reside in the Argyle school district.)
Contact: Nancy Dammen, 608-543-3451
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Black Hawk Area Food Pantry
Location: South Wayne Fire Department, 107 East Center St., South Wayne
Open: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Thursday of each month. (Must reside in the Black Hawk school district.)
Contact: Donna Larse, 608-439-5317
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce when the pantry is open. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Pecatonica Area Food Pantry
Location: Pecatonica Lutheran Perish, 305 Madison St., Blanchardville
Open: 10 to 11 a.m. every first and third Saturday of each month.
Contact: Jean Christen, 608-967-2349, or Marlys Hittersdorf, 608-523-4047
Need: Non-perishables; accepts fresh produce. Call to schedule drop-offs.
Belleville Food Pantry
Location: Belleville Village Hall, 24 West Main St., Belleville
Open: 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays; 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays. (Must have a Belleville address.) Office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: The Village Hall, 608-424-3341
Need: Non-perishables; fresh produce with limited refrigerator and freezer space. Accepts fresh produce Monday afternoons or Thursday mornings.