New food pantry set to open in Oconomowoc
OCONOMOWOC -- Boxes upon boxes of food were unloaded and packed into a room Wednesday, August 22nd that sat empty just days ago. After hearing cries for help, Oconomowoc residents are starting their own food pantry.
"I think it came from the needs people brought into our church -- people who would stop by or even a few members of our church would talk about the difficult times they were experiencing," Steven Kielley with the Abundant Life Food Pantry said.
After seeing families and residents in need, members of the Abundant Life Church in Oconomowoc decided to take action and open a food pantry.
"To see people from all different jobs and all of our time schedules and everybody gets so busy in their own lives, yet everybody gives a part to this. I think it's really good," volunteer Jamie Kufalk said.
They began the process about four months ago and are now preparing to open the Abundant Life Food Pantry in a matter of days.
As the volunteers worked, the shelves are quickly filling up with all kinds of necessities.
"We want to follow our basic food groups and we're going to have the vegetables and the starches and the meats and the milks," Kielley said.
The Abundant Life Food Pantry has also received help from the Roundy's Foundation, which donated 3,000 pounds of food and $2,500.
"We know that there are so many people who are struggling to put food on the table so hunger relief is very important to us," Roundy's spokesperson Vivian King said.
It's the labor of love that drives the volunteers to spend their days helping those who need it most.
"I feel a joy in what I'm doing and I know that's only going to blossom when people start to come through the lines and we can give them things that they need," Kielley said.
The Abundant Life Food Pantry will host an open house Sunday, August 26th from noon until 3 p.m. It will officially open Sunday, September 2nd and from then on it will be open every Sunday from noon until 2 p.m.
For information on how to volunteer or receive food you can call 262-965-5177.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Abundant Life Food Pantry.