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New food pantry takes bigger bite out of local hunger

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Laura Zimborski, a volunteer with the Salvation Army, packs food orders in the Army's new food pantry next to the existing offices on Sutherland Ave.

JANESVILLE — The Salvation Army in Janesville is excited about the recent completion of its expanded and reorganized food pantry.

So are its clients, whose numbers continue to grow and are expected to increase with the struggling economy.

During the first six months of the Salvation Army’s 2008-09 fiscal year, the local church and social service agency filled 725 more grocery orders than during the same time the year before, said Tami Prochazka, social services coordinator.

In March, 222 more people and 91 more families got grocery help than during the same month the previous year. April’s food pantry demands also are expected to exceed last year’s numbers, Prochazka said.

As of April 22, 250 families already had sought help compared to a total of 269 families for the entire month of April last year.

“We still have nine days left of the month, and the end of the month is a busier time when people with bills due seek help to stretch their dollars. We’re starting to see a lot of lay-off effects and seeing clients for the first time. As the months go on, we will see the numbers jump higher,’’ she said.

Corps officer Capt. Kirk Schuetz is confident “the new addition will enable us to serve more people with more food than ever before.’’

That’s because the new 1,600-square-foot pantry consolidates the operation into one location at the Salvation Army’s Family Services building at 404 Hyatt St. To improve efficiency, the parts of the pantry housed in the corps’ main building at 514 Sutherland Ave., next door, moved to the expanded space. The former house has a new roof, brown paint to cover the old green, and a new, attached and heated double garage with a full basement. Included are three commercial freezers and an additional commercial refrigerator on the main floor plus more household freezers in the basement. The expansion offers more room to prepare grocery orders, and donated shelves add space for food.

The food pantry/emergency assistance office hours also have been increased from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays without closing during the noon hour, Prochazka said.

“We have expanded the hours we are open in hopes more people needing help will be able to receive it,” Schuetz said.

Two regular volunteers through the Job Services’ WISE 55 and older worker program help fill food orders and accept donations.

The consolidation eliminates the wait time for 15 families a day, the average number for pantry use.

The once half-hour process now takes less than 10 minutes, Prochazka said.

“The idea to make the process, which we’ve fine-tuned, as quick and efficient as possible seems to be working,’’ Prochazka said.

A client who was among 263 to respond to a March survey agreed: “It’s friendly and fast.’’

“As long as we can keep the food donations coming in,” Prochazka said, “we will be able to serve quite a few more clients.”