Community Food Pantry
by Russ Mancl
The Student Council at Kate Goodrich Elementary School in Merrill, WI, presented a check for $404.00 to the Community Food Pantry in Merrill from the sale of candy canes.
Feeding the hungry is a ministry that keeps S. Anita Wolf and S. Mary Anthony Menting, Merrill, WI, busy year round. They are managers of the Community Food Pantry, 401 West Main Street.
(L-r.) Mike Semling, Jim Boettcher, S. Anita, Dennis Knott. The Merrill Evening Lions Club dropped off items from their Annual Christmas Party. They asked members to bring items in for the Community Food Pantry.
The Community Food Pantry in Merrill saw a slight decrease in the number of people that used their services in 2008. According to S. Anita Wolf, there was a 3% decrease in the total number served from the year 2007. The figures released show that 4, 145 individuals were served in 2008 compared to 4, 275 in 2007. Of that number 1,792 were children, which is a 3% increase over 2007.
S. Anita said, "I wonder whether the tax refund may have had some impact on the reduction of individuals we served." However, the increase in the number of children served indicates that the food pantry saw larger families in the low income range who needed extra help for food.
In recent months the food pantry is seeing increased numbers of families affected by job losses and reduced work hours. This is probably a trend for the future and an indication that the food pantry will need the continuing support of the area community.
S. Anita Wolf has worked at the Community Food Pantry since 2000 and S. Mary Anthony Menting began working at the food pantry in 2007. The Community Food Pantry was started in 1983 by a group of local churches. It is still an ecumenical endeavor and has also broadened with help from individual donors, businesses, schools and civic organizations.
The Community Food Pantry relies on volunteers to help keep the shelves stocked and help those using the services. The oldest volunteer is Lorraine Preboske who turned 92 last year, and is still very active. If you are interested in volunteering, stop in at 401 W. Main Street, Merrill, or call 715-218-1957.
