Carl is a retired educator who taught metal fabrication, welding, and economics. He worked with recent high school graduates and young adults, training them for careers in local industry.

Like so many retired neighbors who have worked hard and helped build our communities, his fixed income just doesn’t always stretch far enough to afford the nutritious food he needs. But thanks to donors like you, he’s been able to visit the Lakeshore CAP food pantry in Sturgeon Bay when his budget is stretched to the limit. He’s been coming for about three years now. It helps to supplement his retirement income, along with what he gets from his chickens and his large garden.

“The grocery prices are really frightening,” he says. “I just don’t buy meat in the grocery store. It’s so outrageously expensive, and we get a good selection
of meats here.”

Carl appreciates that he can get what he needs to fill in the gap during months that are especially tight. “I know a lot of people are suffering. … I try not to overuse it,” he says.

Carl often visits in the morning and sees a lot of young mothers — so he knows he isn’t alone. He can see that young families are in the same situation he’s in, and he says the food pantry is a wonderful service for them.

“This gives people confidence that the community is looking out after you — especially for young mothers that are struggling and more people that are struggling,” he says.

Your gifts support food pantries throughout Eastern Wisconsin that are dedicated to helping our neighbors access the food they need to thrive and stay strong. Thank you!

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