Author: Joan Koehne

Say Cheese! Pick Up Dairy Donations at Green Bay Pantry

Joan Koehne
Save-A-Lot milk voucher for 1 gallon of milk from Hope Center Pantry
Clients receive milk vouchers for Save-A-Lot to select the milk of their choice – when they actually need it.

Where in the world would people wear a wedge of cheese on their heads to cheer for their favorite National Football League team? Nowhere but Green Bay, Wisconsin! As the official home of the Cheeseheads, Wisconsin is known for the Green Bay Packers, triangle-shaped Cheeseheads headwear, and dairy production. Dairy is a major industry in Wisconsin, so the state is nicknamed “America’s Dairyland.”

Green Bay Pantry Near Lambeau Field

Hope Center Pantry is proud of its Wisconsin roots. Hope Center Pantry is located on the West Side of Green Bay at 505 Clinton St., a mere 2.5 miles from legendary Lambeau Field, 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay. Our clients benefit from living in the Dairy State because of the dairy donations we distribute.

Dairy Donations of Milk, Cheese, Butter

Hope Center Pantry, Green Bay, is excited to announce a few dairy donation updates for the pantry.
The pantry now

  • Offers a block of cheese to large and small families
  • Replaced margarine with butter for distribution
  • Switched from providing gallons of milk to vouchers for milk

Positive Move, Switching to Milk Vouchers

Previously, the pantry distributed gallons of milk, but now issues vouchers. Clients take the vouchers to Save-A-Lot to select the milk of their choice – when they actually need it. We received fantastic feedback from our clients about the milk vouchers. They are thrilled to have a pre-paid voucher to get the milk that their family truly enjoys. Plus, since the pantry no longer stores milk in its coolers, the pantry has extra cooler space for things like eggs and yogurt when these items are available. It’s a win/win situation!

Qualifying for Food Assistance

Hope Center Pantry, Green Bay, serves people in need who live in Brown County, Wisconsin. The pantry encourages anyone who is in a rough spot, even temporarily, to request assistance. Individuals accepting food are asked to present a photo ID and a current piece of mail. If either of these forms of identification is not possible, individuals can talk with Hope Center Pantry to determine another way to qualify for assistance. No income verification is necessary. The pantry is open from 1-3 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Hope Center Pantry volunteers respect the dignity of all people who come to the pantry regardless of race, status or creed.

Hope Center Pantry Helps Kids & Families at Homeless Shelter

Joan Koehne
Family of dad and 2 kids

Hope Center Pantry is a steadfast partner of Freedom House Ministries. Freedom House, located on the East Side of Green Bay, assists families with dependent children who are experiencing homelessness. Freedom House, an emergency homeless shelter, can accommodate 16 families and assigns each family a room based on the family’s size. These three testimonials describe the powerful and life-changing experience that Freedom House residents experience.

I learned how it feels to live an abuse-free life, and I found my voice again.

Freedom House resident

Freedom House isn’t just a shelter, it’s a home full of happiness.

Freedom House resident

Freedom House changed our lives.

Freedom House resident
Freedom House logo

Freedom House, Green Bay

Freedom House provides residents with:

  • Meals & snacks
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Childcare support
  • Classes in parenting, employability skills, budgeting & independent living

Every family leaves the shelter with an individualized budget and an understanding of the qualities of a good tenant.

Homeless Shelter for Families with Children

Freedom House moved into a new location at 2997 St. Anthony Drive, Green Bay, in March 2020 and assisted 564 people in its first six months. Since opening in 1992, the homeless shelter has helped thousands of families and children. A majority of residents successfully journey to self-sufficiency and independence. Overall, Freedom House helps families become more independent and break the cycle of poverty. To assist with this goal, Hope Center Pantry donates food to the homeless shelter, to help those who are homeless in the community.

Food Donations for Nonprofits in Green Bay

Freedom House Ministries was overjoyed to receive food donations from Hope Center Pantry. The panty provided pasta, “helpers,” canned fruit, dental floss, powdered drink mixes and children’s snacks. Hope Center Pantry is committed to assisting Freedom House Ministries and other nonprofit agencies in Brown County by utilizing our talented, dedicated volunteers and surplus of food. Join us in our mission to to serve and guide those who are in need. It is our responsibility to empower and support others. Contact us to learn how.

Source of quotes: https://freedomhouseministries.org/

Be Prepared: Boy Scouts Collect Nonperishable Food Every April

Joan Koehne 1 Comment

The Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared,” takes on a new meaning every spring when the scouts gift our pantry with multiple pallets of nonperishable food. Three pallets were donated in 2022! Four pallets were donated in 2023! With hundreds of pounds of nonperishable food, the panty will “Be Prepared” to feed hundreds of children, adults, and families who are hungry. The pantry storage room at Hope Center Pantry, 505 Clinton St., Green Bay, is well-stocked every April after Scouting for Food.

boxes of food collected by Scouting for Food in April to fill Hope Center Pantry shelves
Boy Scouts of the Bay-Lakes Council run Scouting for Food in April to collect nonperishable food door-to-door. They help fill Hope Center Pantry’s shelves.

Green Bay Boy Scouts Food Drive

Scouting for Food has been a Scouting tradition in the Boy Scouts Bay-Lakes Council for 35 years. Here’s how Scouting for Food works. On a Saturday in mid-April, Boy Scouts distribute door hangers in their neighborhoods announcing a food drive for nonperishables. Then, a week later, the Scouts return to these homes and pick up food donations that people leave by their front door. The food is then distributed to local food banks and pantries, like Hope Center Pantry on the West Side of Green Bay. Scouting for Food is a remarkable community service project making a healthy difference for those in need.


Well-Stocked with Nonperishable Food

Hope Center Pantry, Green Bay, is so appreciative of this door-to-door food drive every year. When the pantry is well-stocked with nonperishable foods, the pantry directors don’t need to use donated funds to purchase these food items. Instead, monetary donations can be allocated elsewhere to help those in need.

Thanks to All Involved in Scouting for Food

Thanks to all the Boy Scouts, Scout leaders and their families for participating in Scouting for Food. Also, thanks to the Hope Center Pantry volunteers who sort the pallets of food the pantry receives. With enough volunteers, we can sort the nonperishable food donations in record time!