Hunger knows no season, but in November and December, when people get ready to celebrate two big holidays with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and more, it tends to get a lot of attention.
The Shawano Area Food Pantry and Resource Center assists more than 500 families a month in Shawano County with making sure they get the needed food to keep alive and healthy, but that number could increase as Thanksgiving approaches, according to Mike Emerson, SAFPARC director.
There has been an increase in recent months, Emerson said, but signs don’t point to the recent decision to cut SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. He attributes the big increase to the closure of Flo’ing With Kindness, the food pantry in Gresham, due to the building being sold and leaving the pantry with nowhere else to go.
“Have we seen an increase? Yes,” Emerson said. “It’s due to many other factors than the (government) shutdown. I hate the fear that everyone is generating right now. At the same time, I understand it, because some of our clients, especially some new ones, they’re in tears by the time they leave here, because they’re so thankful.”
Emerson doesn’t see the shutdown impacting operations in Shawano County, as SAFPARC and several smaller food pantries that operate on a weekly or monthly basis work to get those down on their luck what they need. SAFPARC has only had to utilize government funding once in the 23 years it has been in operation, and it was to get a new van to transport food from other places.
“When people come in the door, we get them food,” Emerson said.
SAFPARC utilizes 47 volunteers who put in more than 600 hours each month to make sure everything is set up when people come in weekday mornings and Wednesday afternoons to pick up food or apply to receive food, according to Emerson. Having seen 40 additional clients through the end of October makes it essential for people willing to give their time to do so to accommodate anyone with need.
“We’ve got a wonderful crew, and all they’re here to do is try and help people,” Emerson said. “We hope that’s what we’re doing.”
Communication has been good in Shawano and other communities when SAFPARC finds they’re getting short on particular staples or with food in general. Emerson noted many businesses and organizations organize food drives during the holiday season, including the Shawano National Honor Society, Gresham School District, Wolf River Hog Chapter, Cornerstone Chiropractic, Captain’s Cover and the Shawano hockey team.
“During the holidays, I think we’ve seen over 700 clients over the Thanksgiving period,” Emerson said. “We kind of expect that again. We’re happy for the influx of business, because it makes us feel like we’re serving. Every one of these people are servants. That attitude is a lot different than what I’ve heard on a lot of the newscasts.”
He added that the television stations have created a lot of “panic,” and while hunger in communities is a problem, it’s not something that has ballooned to epic proportions, in his view.
“It’s unnecessary, except in the nature of bargaining politically,” Emerson said. “We don’t have any political aspirations here.”
With the holidays approaching, SAFPARC offers clients Thanksgiving boxes, paid for by people and entities with the cash flow to do so.
“We’re lucky that we have sponsors that do a Thanksgiving meal for us, as well as a Christmas breakfast,” Emerson said. “They pay the bill. The community itself in Shawano is so extremely generous. If a family of six comes in here, we’re going to make sure they leave with a Thanksgiving meal they can be proud of.”
It costs about $150,000 annually for SAFPARC to maintain its facility on East Richmond Street. It all comes from community support, according to Emerson.
He noted that SAFPARC expects to move about 10,000 pounds of food in the next two months, including a shipment of pumpkin pies recently received from Foxtail Foods just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Despite getting food from Feeding America and other organizations, there are some needs that can be difficult to fulfill. Emerson noted it’s extremely difficult at this time of year getting fresh produce to put in the supplies given to people.
“My budget has had to increase due to the cost of food,” he said. “Cash is always king when it comes to donations.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
