The Birnamwood Area Community Cupboard was formed by necessity.
“Pastor Jeff Krueger was giving food out of his own cupboard,” said Pat White, vice president of the food pantry.
In 1984 a group of pastors and representatives from area churches established a food pantry.
“The purpose was to provide emergency food or other resources to families or individuals who have an immediate need,” said Kathy Zarda, secretary since 1999.
The effort grew to include most of the churches in Mattoon, Aniwa and Eland. The pantry was located in the backroom of Backes Grocery in Birnamwood.
In 1991 a second location was added — the basement of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mattoon. The pantries are stocked with food collected by various sources, including the Boy Scouts, area schools, churches and the post office.
The pantries also get private donations. White’s son, Jess White, of Trails and Tails, a deer hunting lodge, donates food that people bring to a banquet there. Area hunters donate venison that is ground and stored in a freezer in the Mattoon pantry.
Zarda is one of the people who is on call when a need arises.
“When I retired I was asked to be a representative from the former Holy Family Catholic Church,” said Zarda, who lives in Mattoon.
There is also an account at the Mattoon Market for essentials and a gas account at Remington Oil for both Mattoon and Birnamwood.
Zarda said they usually get one call a month, sometimes more for people who might be on unemployment or have medical bills.
“Living here we find out who needs it,” Zarda said.
At Thanksgiving, cupboard volunteers make fruit baskets for the elderly. At Christmas, they provide turkeys, ham, potatoes and fruit to needy families.
“We go by the year before and see if they still need help,” Zarda said.
People who want to help can donate funds for the holiday purchases.
Eight churches have representatives at the pantry. They meet five times a year. Other officers are JoAnne Olson, president, and Shirlyn Krull, treasurer.
“I just feel that it’s part of being in a community and you do your share,” Zarda said.
On Sunday, at 1:30 p.m., the annual five-mile walk will be held in Birnamwood to raise funds for the pantries. It begins and ends at St. Philomena Catholic Church.
For more information or to donate, call Zarda at 715-489-3647.
Categories
