A Gamble, a Blessing, and a Thank You

Julie Frahmann took a risk one day. After hearing a sermon about a teenager who started a food pantry – out of the blue, with no prior experience, in another US city – she gambled that if a teenager could start out cold, she could do it, too. That was in 2009 in the community of Muskego, Wisconsin.

Today, the Muskego Food Pantry serves over 100 families every 2 weeks. Behind them are hundreds of volunteers and benefactors, starting with local architectural products manufacturer Inpro Corporation, which donates the site and maintains the facility: a place to call home.

According to National Geographic, the face of hunger in America is changing. In the suburbs hunger has more than doubled since 2007 – faster than its growth in the cities https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/hunger/. In fact, two thirds of the households who rely on support include at least one working adult, usually in a full-time job. And according to Frahmann, half of the those who need the pantry in Muskego are children.

An Army of Support

The Muskego Food Pantry may have started with one woman’s dream, but it is carried by an entire city. Grocery and other stores? Check. Schools of every kind – public and private, kids, teachers and administrators? Check. Churches? Absolutely. Businesses? Check. People who live in Muskego in every age group and in every walk of life who simply give? Yes. Even City Hall, the police, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other groups find ways to give.

At the store, a group of 25 volunteers run pick-ups to keep food on the shelves, restock, serve guests, and keep the pantry running smoothly. Shelves of macaroni and cheese, a popular staple, can clear out within two hours of opening, says Wendy Gajewski, Volunteer Coordinator. Planning for and coordinating donations is critical, because without a constant influx of food, the shelves go bare.

A Moment of Thanks for Years of Giving

On February 22, 2018, a small group of supporters and volunteers gathered at the Muskego Food Pantry to join in a prayer of thanksgiving to acknowledge the generosity of the Muskego community and the work of volunteers. Pastor Kelli Weiss of Bethel Lutheran Church (in blue) blessed those present, including a large group of volunteers and Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti. And together they acknowledged the hundreds of people, benefactors and groups who never forget the Food Pantry needs them.

“It’s your everyday citizen who sends a $25 check, or who drops food in a barrel (people who drop food in the barrels don’t ever get a thank you)” Frahmann says. “We want them to know they’re helping people get through the month and keep food on the table.”

Contributors are also helping children through special times like the holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter - and don’t get a chance to see the smiles on faces of people struggling to make ends meet. This past Christmas, the pantry handed out donated gifts at a party hosted by St. Paul’s church in Muskego.

“You should see these kids,” Frahmann said. “They are really excited, and these may be the only gifts they receive.” Frahmann wants friends of the pantry to know they’re making a difference…making life better for children and their families in memorable ways.

“All we can do is say thank you. You may be invisible, behind the scenes, just grabbing a moment to drop off or share what you can. It’s just what people need to get back on their feet,” Frahmann said. “Thank you.”

The Muskego Food Pantry is located at S81 W19150 Apollo Drive in Muskego, phone 262-679-6448. Food can be dropped in Food Pantry barrels throughout the city, or at the pantry from 9 am.-5 pm every Thursday or on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 9-11 a.m.