Diane and Phil are both retired. They have been volunteering each week at The Salvation Army food pantry in Fond du Lac for about three years, something they get to enjoy doing together.

They were inspired to join the volunteer team by their daughter, who works in The Salvation Army office there.

“She suggested it and said there are some husband-and-wife teams that do it. So we thought that would be a good thing to do on Tuesdays since we’re retired,” Diane says.

They’ve seen an increase in need in the last three years — mostly because of inflation, but also due to layoffs in the area. Diane says she’s also noticed more grandparents coming in because they are raising their grandchildren and need extra food to keep the children growing and thriving.

“When you have people come in and they’re kind of in a bad situation or a bad place … you feel good that you’re helping people that really need the food,” Phil says. Being able to help the people who come in is his favorite part of volunteering.

“They always say you’re one paycheck away from something,” Diane says. “In our younger days, he went through a lot of layoffs as well, so we know what that’s like.”

Thanks to donors like you, food pantries like the one at The Salvation Army in Fond Du Lac are there to provide nourishing food and support. Your kindness makes a world of difference!

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