Victoria had never visited a food pantry before and wasn’t sure what to expect.

She’s a stay-at-home mom with six kids who does it all while her partner works, and she finds it hard to ask for help. But lately, like many neighbors in Eastern Wisconsin, she’s finding it more difficult to stretch one income to cover all the family’s needs.

“It is extremely hard sometimes to make ends meet, and I feel like more stuff comes up during the summer months. … It’s definitely more expensive in the summer,” she says of her decision to finally visit Lakeshore Community Food Pantry in Kewaunee. “I decided to get the help I so desperately needed.”

And because of you, the experience was all she hoped it would be and more. She was met by friendly volunteers and a dignified experience, where she and her three youngest kids could shop the pantry shelves, picking only what they wanted and needed. The children were excited for the apple slices and macaroni and cheese. Silas, 7, was particularly thrilled to get his favorite food — ham! “That was wonderful. Meat goes a long way in our family,” Victoria says.

Beyond just food, Victoria is taking away a wonderful experience of compassion and a community coming together to support one another. To any other neighbors who are feeling hesitant about looking for help, she wants to say, “It’s OK not to be OK sometimes. That’s what programs like this are for.”

And to donors like you, she says, “Thank you. A hundred times over.” Every dollar you give goes to helping more families like Victoria’s in Eastern Wisconsin.

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