Southern Door Food Pantries

Every donation is appreciated at the Door County Community Resource Program, also known as Feed My People – Clothe My People Food Pantry in Sturgeon Bay.

George Wentz separates donated food before stocking the shelves at Feed My People/Clothe My People in Sturgeon Bay. Wentz has stocked shelves at the food pantry for four years and has noticed more people with a need for such support and a continuously generous community. Photo by Jim Lundstrom.

“Our shelves get so bare sometimes I have a hard time putting pantries together,” said pantry coordinator Ashley Madson. “There’s a great need for food and there has been a greater need recently.”

She said two annual food drives help tremendously in keeping the shelves stocked – the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive in May and the fall Scouting for Food Drive held by the Boy Scouts of America.

“Each of those gets us through for a few months. Between them we get real low,” Madson said.

In between those two big food drives, the pantry relies on the generosity of the community to keep shelves stocked.

“We get food and money donations,” Madson said. “The money helps us buy the milk, eggs, meats and we buy some canned foods as well. Every donation is appreciated.”

The pantry also compiles a list of needy families that will get a turkey for Christmas, and hams for Easter.

“We did 156 turkeys last year,” Madson said. “Depending on the size of the families, if there are seven, eight, nine people, they get two turkeys.”

The pantry is next door to the Clothe My People Thrift Store. Sales from the thrift store also help keep the free food program going.

Madson said anyone wishing to use the food pantry just has to call (920.743.9053).

“It’s open to the public and we do everything over the phone,” she said. “We ask income, how many in household and bring in proof of address.”

George Wentz has been stocking the food pantry shelves for four years. He checks incoming food for expiration dates and stocks shelves just as they do in grocery stores.

“There is an increasing need for food, and I commend the community for their generosity,” Wentz said.

Lakeshore Community Action Program operates the largest food pantry in Door County out of their building at 131 S. 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. Eligibility is based on monthly household income. An individual/family can pick up free perishable and nonperishable food once per month. Hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11 am – 4 pm. 
Call 920.743.0192.

The November 22 issue of the Pulse will look at Northern Door food pantries.