The Lakeshore Community Pantry in Kewaunee is stocking up for the winter and looking for a new home for its small furniture and household goods store.

The food pantry, which is located in the basement of Holy Rosary Church at 519 Kilbourn St. in Kewaunee, serves anyone who resides in Kewaunee County.  It is open from 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday and provides food, and some clothing and household goods.

The pantry is staffed by a small, hardworking group of dedicated volunteers.   It relies solely on donations to replenish its stock as it is not funded by any state or federal government.   It receives help and support from local churches, organizations, farms, businesses and individuals from inside and outside the county, according to Donna Monahan, director of the pantry.

Many local organizations hold food drives, including  postal workers, Boy Scouts, churches, Artisan Guild, Holy Rosary School and students from Kewaunee public schools.   Other donations include garden produce, eggs, meat, bread, cheese, non-perishable foods, household goods and cash.

In the summer, Kewaunee’s community garden provides recipients with fresh vegetables. The fall brings donations of venison and fish from other organizations. Local churches provide homemade pies for Thanksgiving as well as a meal, she said.   The pantry also provides holiday cookies and presents to its clients, she said.

The pantry serves about 40 to 50 families per week or about 200 people, Monahan said.   She said that the number had increased this year.

When a recipient comes into the pantry they fill out a form giving their name, address and phone number as well as the number of persons in the household.  This allows the volunteers to determine how much food to distribute as well as document they are from Kewaunee County.  They also fill out a checklist of groceries they need, which is printed in English and Spanish.  Volunteers then fill their orders and recipients leave with a box of needed groceries.

The food pantry is also looking for new donated space for its second location – at the Hillcrest School, 915 Second St. in Kewaunee, that is a store stocked with donated clothes, bedding and small furniture, toys and household goods that are given free to needy families.  The current space is donated by the Kewaunee School District.   But Hillcrest School will be razed next summer, and Lakeshore Community Pantry is looking for an individual or business to donate space so this worthy undertaking can continue, said Monahan.   She said that there may be tax deductions available to an individual or business that donates space.

The store will continue to be open at the Hillcrest location until next May.   Its hours are . Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and  Wednesday noon-3:30 p.m.  It is also open the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon.

The food pantry is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.  Monetary donations to the pantry can be send to Lakeshore Community Pantry, Box 104, Kewaunee, WI  54216.  Food can be dropped off at the Holy Rosary church basementfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays.  Information on donating space, questions or requests to volunteer can be made to Donna Monahan at 920-255-0706.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Lakeshore Community Food Pantry stocks up