Lomira Food Pantry Helps Fill the Need for Local Families

The need for our local food pantries has always been important to the local communities, but their importance has grown in recent months.
The Lomira Food Pantry, located at 300 Church St. (Trinity Methodist Church building) in Lomira, serves around 60 area families per month.
Bruce Sterr is the Chairman of the food pantry, and the pantry has a board which helps in decision making, and there are several volunteers that help with distribution, collecting and sorting donations, packing food into boxes, or transporting items.
Distribution happens on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church in Lomira.

People are asked to show proof of residency in the area when picking up items (i.e., electric bill, water bill, etc.), and it is a good idea to call Bruce ahead of time.
“For the last two months, we’ve been adding three to four each time there is a distribution per month, and the need is continuing to grow,” said Kathy Sterr. “Two years ago, when Bruce and I started helping with the food pantry, we were serving a little more than 40 families per month.”
People can mail in donations to the Lomira Food Pantry at the 300 Church Street address; otherwise, there are collection bins at the Lomira Piggly Wiggly and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lomira.
“We purchase over 80% of the food we distribute at the food pantry,” said Sterr.
Currently, the Lomira Piggly Wiggly has donation bags we distribute at the entrance of the store, which people can purchase and place in the bin,” said Sterr.
“A couple of months ago, I met with Bruce to see what we can do to be more involved, and the pantry was running low on non-perishable foods, then it led to us putting together some pantry bags with your basic essential, non-perishable foods: mac and cheese, peanut butter, cereal, canned vegetables and more,” said Lomira’s Malicki Piggly Wiggly Ben Malicki. “The community support has been amazing, and we look forward to doing this as a staple for the future and to keep up the momentum.”
Malicki’s Piggly Wiggly will continue its support by having a three-week roundup from December 7 to December 27.
“Area churches have helped support the food pantry with donations (food and money),” said Sterr. “We have area businesses and civic groups providing funding as well,” said Sterr.
The Lomira FFA hosted a food drive on October 19 to help support the Lomira Pantry’s food item needs.
“The food drive for our local food pantry is very important to help out families in a time of need,” said Lomira Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Dan Robinson. “The Lomira FFA is very proud to host the drive-thru food drive to help our community, and it gives our students a sense of pride in knowing they are helping the community.”
To learn more about the Lomira Food Pantry, check out their website at lomiraareafoodpantry.com or give Bruce a call at 920-960-1144.