Providing food to our neighbors in need
by Muriel Nelson
The Lifeline Food Pantry was among the first tenants of the Clear Lake Area Community Center (CLACC). The original founders of Lifeline started the organization June 17, 2000, and established a strong foundation for the future development and success of this food pantry.
Today, the Co-Directors, Diean Schramski and Gordon Weber, lead a team of 52 additional volunteers who have one objective when working there, that is, follow the ”Golden Rule” and aid all clients who come to shop there. Approximately 150 client-families are currently helped by this food pantry per month.
Food pantry clients are greeted by helpful volunteers who guide them through the aisles created by shelves filled with non-perishable food items, just as we see in a grocery store. And, just like shopping in the grocery store, clients can select foods that their family will enjoy. There are freezers and refrigerators containing protein-rich foods for the shoppers too.
You may wonder where the food comes from. A primary supplier is the St. Croix Valley Food Bank, based in Hudson. The other main supplier is the Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, a federal government program that channels food to not only food programs like Lifeline, but also to schools, hospitals, and similar organizations.
On second and fourth Wednesday of each month, Lifeline’s “truck day volunteers”, a team of 20 or more, share the job of unloading the cases of food from the St. Croix Valley Food Bank. Another group of volunteers then takes on the sorting and shelving of the incoming food.
The other food sources that the pantry and clients are most grateful for are the food donations from the local community, be it from food drives or from individuals. They also appreciate the area gardeners who share their crops, and the professional growers who bring in produce from their fields and orchards. All these contributions make for optimal grocery shopping for the Lifeline clients.
No donation is ever taken for granted. When considering a donation to the food pantry, think about this from Diean, “Anything you like, our clients like. Anything you need, our clients need”. This is evident as one looks at the shelves filled with canned goods, paper products, personal items, soaps, and detergents, and yes, pet food too. Gordon advises that monetary donations are also very much needed to purchase goods not provided free of charge. He noted that the food pantry’s purchasing power from the food bank is greater than that of an individual’s.
The Co-Directors describe their 52 volunteers as a very dedicated team of individuals who are energetic, skilled and a close-knit group. Many are retired; several others are still in the workforce. They are hospitable to the clients and follow the motto “no judgment” when working there. Also, any information gained is held in confidence. Volunteers hail from not only Clear Lake but also nearby communities such as Glenwood City, Amery, Turtle Lake, and Clayton.
The Lifeline Food Pantry is appropriately named. It serves as a food resource to individuals for the long-haul. What we sometimes forget is that it’s here to be a ‘lifeline’ for short term situations as well. For instance, if you have an unexpected event (a temporary illness so you can’t work, a major car expense, etc.) and you cannot afford to buy groceries for a week, a month or a bit longer, contact the food pantry for an appointment. To quote Gordon, “There is no reason to go hungry when the food pantry is here to help you.”
Lifeline Food Pantry has coordinated with Interfaith Caregivers (715-825-9500) to help those unable to travel to the pantry. Depending on where the person lives, Interfaith Caregivers may provide transportation to the pantry, or they may pick up a box of food for the client and deliver it to their home.
Another food program that the Lifeline Food Pantry supports is the USDA Commodity Program for Seniors, that is, for people 60 years of age and older who meet specific income eligibility requirements. This program is completely separate from the food pantry program even though Lifeline serves as a distribution point and must maintain records for the state-managed program. Interested seniors can contact the Lifeline Food Pantry for more information. Note, not all food pantries support the Commodity Program.
It's important to mention that the local food pantry must work a lot harder these days to keep their shelves and refrigeration units filled for their clients. Deliveries from the St. Croix Valley Food Bank have declined in size. Also, consider the overall higher food prices plus the recent cuts in the SNAP program. All this indicates that our food pantry needs more support as it faces the potential of more clients and less food availability.
All the volunteers recognize how blessed the Lifeline Food Pantry is by the goodness of this community….the donations, the food drives, and the grants. In turn, we are fortunate to have an organization like the Lifeline Food Pantry to help us.
The Lifeline Food Pantry is located in the Clear Lake Area Community Center at 560 5th St. Enter from the South Parking Lot. Hours open – Wednesday 1:00-5:00 pm; Thursday 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Phone number (including emergencies) - 715-263-3846. Mailing address - P.O. Box 86, Clear Lake, WI 54005.
Lifeline Food Pantry Co-Directors, Diean Schramski and Gordon Weber
