Food pantry relies on support of many
Although the state of the economy has caused increased need at the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, many organizations have been contributing there for many years. The Eagles Auxiliary of Waukesha started offering a reasonably priced Sunday morning breakfast at its Waukesha clubhouse in the early 1990s. Part of the proceeds went to the food pantry. Today the breakfast costs $3.75 and is served from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
The group recently gave the food pantry the total receipts from a breakfast at which the volunteers were mostly in their 70s - some even in their 80s. However, Kay Sprague, one of the veteran workers, convinced her daughter, Trish Bakalars,and her grandson, Josh Bakalars,to lend a hand.
A check for the proceeds will be presented to Karen Tredwell, executive director of the food pantry.
The Scouting for Food drive coordinated by the Fox River District Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts collected almost 25,000 food items for the pantry this year. The Girl Scouts Souper Bowl drive resulted in 6,343 cans of soup being collected. Many service clubs, churches and schoolchildren give food to the pantry.
On May 9, the 17th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, coordinated by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service, was held across the nation. About 78,470 pounds of food was gathered by the Waukesha, Brookfield and Elm Grove post offices.
The proceeds from the Waukesha Post Office benefited the Food Pantry of Waukesha County and the Salvation Army. Food pantries in Butler, Eagle, Hartland, Menomonee Falls, Mukwonago, Oconomowoc, New Berlin, North Lake, Pewaukee, Sussex and Wales received the food collected in their areas.
The Board of Directors of the Food Pantry of Waukesha County is made up of Mary Baer of Waukesha, Larry Bucholtz of Waukesha, Linda Caldart-Olson of Mukwonago, Leticia Hoisington of Oconomowoc, Dani Jason of Waukesha, Michele Marsh of Brookfield, Lisa Mautz of Waukesha, Heather Mrotek of Waukesha, Tim Probst of Waukesha, Mary Jane Reichart of New Berlin, District Attorney Brad Schimel, Jane Schneider of Waukesha, Kim Seeberg of Waukesha, Barbara Syrjanen of Waukesha and Steve Youngbauer of Waukesha.
Lorayne Ritt covers Waukesha County's nonprofits. Contact her at (262) 542-6797.
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