Letter from the President and CEO

Summer is just around the corner! Many of us — especially children — are starting to think about vacations, swimming, picnics, and all the fun that comes with summer break.

But for families whose children rely on free and reduced-price meal programs at school, summer isn’t much of a break. It’s just another season of hunger. Parents are stuck trying to figure out how to provide enough food for their children during the months those free breakfasts and lunches are no longer available. Add the heavy expense of summer child care, and families are left to make impossible choices.

READ MORE

 

"Thank You Very, Very Much"

Royal’s face lights up as she spots the ice cream. “It’s gonna melt!” she squeals. But it’s the perfect treat for her birthday in a few days. She’s turning 5!

Royal visits the UMOS Food Pantry, a hunger-relief partner located in Milwaukee, once a month with her mom, Daisy. Daisy is a dedicated single mom and full-time college student. She is working toward a health care management degree so she can build a better life for herself, Royal, and her 9-year-old son. But that means juggling child care, going to school, and managing household expenses and tuition payments. For three years now, UMOS (and the people who help supply it, like you!) has been important support for Daisy’s family.

READ MORE

 

"It Does My Heart Good!"

When Sue started volunteering at the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry more than three years ago during the pandemic, she couldn’t have imagined how it would fill her heart. Now, every Monday and Tuesday, she greets families with a warm welcome at the checkout counter — her favorite spot to volunteer.

“Some of the brand-new people that come in, I always do a welcome to them,” Sue shares. “Some of them just break down and cry because the need is there, but they’re embarrassed to have to come to a food pantry. We try to assure them that it’s no big deal. They need it; we’re here for them.”

READ MORE

 

Father Carr's: A Place for Good

Father Carr’s Place 2B is a food pantry in Oshkosh, but it’s so much more than that. Father Carr’s serves the community not just with food but also with plenty of listening ears and compassionate volunteers. Executive Director Jim Boehm sees firsthand how this unique space serves those in need.

“For the people that need it, it is everything,” Jim shares. The Our Daily Bread program serves sandwiches, soups, and light meals seven days a week, and every Friday morning, neighbors gather for weekly groceries. According to Jim, food might not be the most important thing they provide: “It’s more than a food pantry. I mean, it’s their Friday morning; it’s what they do. A lot of them just look forward to it all week. It’s an opportunity to come and visit with people. It’s more than a roof over their head, or it’s more than just sitting down having a meal. It’s having a meal with someone. We have a lot of professional listeners here, and that’s really what we are.”

READ MORE