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Grandpa & Grandson Deliver Food Donations to Pantry

Joan Koehne
Grandpa & Grandson, 4, Deliver Food Donations to Hope Center Pantry

Deliveries come in all sizes! The Hope Center Pantry is open from 1-3pm Monday through Thursday, and people will oftentimes drop off donations during these hours. When this happens, our volunteers ask if they need help carrying in the donations.

4-year-old ‘Assistant’ Delivers Food Donations

In March, a man came in the delivery door to grab a cart to collect his donations from his vehicle. He said that he did not need help because he brought his “assistant” along who could do the heavy lifting. It took a while, but eventually, the guy wheeled in an overloaded cart. How could you not smile when you saw his proud assistant?

7 Green Bay Catholic Churches Support Pantry

The job of this adorable 4-year-old boy was to climb up into his grandfather’s truck bed and hand him the food donations so his grandfather could place them on the delivery cart. These items were donated by St. Jude Catholic Church, Green Bay. St. Jude is one of seven West Side Green Bay Catholic churches that supports Hope Center Pantry. St. Jude held a “40 cans for Lent” challenge and donated the canned food to Hope Center Pantry.

Heartwarming Moment Unfolds

Grandpa was beaming with pride, and the little boy showed off his muscles to all of the volunteers at Hope Center Pantry. There truly is so much goodness in the world!

Hope Center Pantry Volunteer Hannah Eichhorn and her boyfriend

Hannah Eichhorn: Serving the Community as Pantry Volunteer

Joan Koehne

Hello! My name is Hannah, and I’ve been volunteering at Hope Center Pantry for about a year and a half now. I was born and raised in Upper Michigan but have lived in Green Bay for the past six years. I love being down here, but still frequently get to the UP to catch up with my family. I am the seventh of nine children, and have 20+ nieces and nephews, so there is always something fun going on!

I work as an RN at Bellin Health Endocrinology Clinic. When I’m not at work, I’m somewhere between the UP and Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where my boyfriend, Chad, lives, usually finding some trails to hike or bike on in my free time. Chad has a basset hound, Bubba, who loves to lead the way for us on the trails. I will never get sick of living in such a beautiful area, especially so close to Lake Michigan, with so many hidden gems to explore.

I am very thankful for my time so far at the Hope Center Pantry. Every person I’ve met there has truly been a pleasure to get to know, and serve alongside. I look forward to continuing to help serve our community through this very special place.

Time to Party! Green Bay Catholic Youth Fill Birthday Bags

Joan Koehne
birthday bags filled by Catholic youth for Hope Center Pantry

In recent years, Hope Center Pantry has benefited from the generosity of youth. We provide opportunities for teens to volunteer, manage the pantry’s social media, and earn high school community service hours. Here is yet another superb example of our local youth doing great things. Hope Center Pantry received 20 birthday bags for boys ages 6-10. Hope Center Pantry was in dire need of birthday bags for this age range, so the timing was perfect!

Birthday Cake, Candles, Toys

Each birthday bag was thoughtfully filled with a box of cake mix, a can of frosting, a pack of birthday candles, a box of theatre-sized candy, two matchbox cars, and another toy. Now can’t you just picture the joy these bags will give each boy who receives one? This gesture surely made God smile!

Catholic Churches Partner with Pantry

Students in the Confirmation class at Nativity of Our Lord Church, Green Bay, Wisconsin, filled the bags. Nativity Catholic Church is one of six West Side Green Bay Catholic parishes that supports Hope Center Pantry. The other Catholic churches are Annunciation, St. Agnes, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Joseph, St. Jude, and St. Patrick. These faith communities work together to help break the cycle of poverty in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thank you for giving back to the community, helping others, and brightening kids’ birthdays.

Feeding America of Northeast Wis. Spreads Easter Cheer

Joan Koehne
Easter hams donated by Feeding America to Hope Center Pantry


Look what the Easter Bunny left at Hope Center Pantry! Hope Center Pantry received an assortment of Easter hams from Feeding America of Northeast Wisconsin. The smaller hams are 4 pounds. These will be offered to Hope Center Pantry clients that have 2-4 people in their household. The larger hams are 8 pounds. These will be offered to Hope Center Pantry clients that have 5 or more people in their household.

Not only will these hams be the centerpiece of Easter dinner, but the ‘planned overs’ (‘left overs’ has such a negative connotation) can be used for delicious casseroles and scrumptious soups. Now that is what we call a win/win … all thanks to Feeding America!

Green Bay Packaging Donates 4,800 Boxes

Joan Koehne
Volunteers unload boxes from Green Bay Packaging donation

Green Bay Packaging is our hometown hero! Thanks to the kindness of Green Bay Packaging, Hope Center Pantry received eight bales of boxes on Feb. 2, 2024. These will be used to package up the food items for our Small, Large and X-Large client families. That equates to about 4,800 boxes which should accommodate Hope Center Pantry for about 16 months.

Volunteers Unite for Swift Unloading

These boxes get stored off-site in a spare room on the third floor at the old Annunciation school. We had a total of seven smiling volunteers lined up to help unload these boxes off of a truck, load them onto flatbed cart, and use the elevator to get them up to the storage room. It only took an hour to get this all accomplished. It was a big job but embodies the proverb that many hands make light work.

Green Bay Packaging Boxes for Food Donations

These boxes will be so helpful for Hope Center Pantry to package food donations. Thanks to Green Bay Packaging for supporting our mission, to serve and guide those who are in need, empower and support others.

Women’s Club Warms Our Hearts with Donations

Joan Koehne
Brown County Community Women's Club donation to Hope Center Pantry

We had a mild winter in Wisconsin in 2023-2024, but on January 17, 2024, temperatures were below zero, and it was freezing cold. But that didn’t stop Lois Mauermann and Terri Lewis from the Brown County Community Women’s Club, Inc. (BCCWC). They filled up their vehicles and delivered food donations of one large box and 41 bags to Hope Center Pantry. Plus, they also donated 17 birthday bags and $45 cash.

You might wonder what the source was of so many amazing items. They had about 100 very generous ladies attend their January 2024 Women’s Club monthly meeting where they ran a food drive on behalf of the Hope Center Pantry. Prior to the meeting, they shared the Pantry’s Wish List. We have deep gratitude for this substantial donation and what it means to our Pantry clients!

Contact us to learn how to host a food drive for your nonprofit organization or business.

Stories of Resilience & Compassion: Hope Center Pantry’s Impact

Joan Koehne
Box of food at Hope Center food pantry

In early January we had two pantry clients that were in dire need of food for their families. They are neighbors. They did not have a vehicle available. So, they walked to Hope Center Pantry. One of them pushed a bike. We typically distribute the client orders in boxes. However, that wouldn’t work in their case. We save used canvas bags just for this purpose.

Rolling Their Food Donations Home

These two clients quickly emptied their boxes into the canvas bags. They were able to drape them over the bike handles which greatly eased their load walking home. They didn’t need to leave any food behind. Their smiles and gratitude were priceless.

Single Mom of 6 Receives Free Food & Rent Subsidy

Then, later that same week, a new client arrived at Hope Center Pantry. She was a single mom with six children. She faced eviction from her apartment as her wages weren’t able to cover the rent. St. Vincent DePaul stepped up to help subsidize her rent and brought her to Hope Center Pantry to get food for her family. She was elated at all that she received.

Food Pantry Thanks Donors & Volunteers

We like to think that on those cold winter days, the clients that came to Hope Center Pantry are warmed by the outreach that wouldn’t happen without the generosity of our donors and volunteers. View a Wish List of food donations the pantry needs, and contact us to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Food Insecurity Grows: Pantry Aids 818 New Clients in 2023

Joan Koehne
pantry volunteers help ease food insecurity at Hope Center Pantry

Food insecurity continues to be an issue for many people in Northeast Wisconsin. In 2023, Hope Center Pantry saw an increase in the number of clients visiting the food pantry to receive free food. Hope Center Pantry registered 818 new clients in 2023. This was 300 more clients than 2022. In 2023, Hope Center Pantry served between 370 and 590 clients a month. These clients represented 1,400 to 2,300 family members. That is a lot of mouths to feed!

93 Pantry Volunteers Feed the Hungry in 2023

Food pantry volunteers make it their mission to do good and help others. In 2023, 93 volunteers helped Hope Center Pantry feed the hungry. Volunteers sorted food donations, registered clients, packed boxes, picked up food from Feeding America, entered data in the database, and performed other volunteer duties.

Help Us Combat Food Insecurity: Donate or Volunteer

Hope Center Pantry, 505 Clinton St., Green Bay, is open from 1-3pm Monday through Thursday. We serve the hungry in Greater Green Bay and Brown County, Wisconsin. Join us on our mission. Donate or volunteer today! Contact us to learn more.

Hope Center Pantry Spreads Holiday Cheer to Homeless

Joan Koehne

Hope Center Pantry brightened the holidays for 33 homeless families on Dec. 2. The pantry partnered with St. Vincent de Paul, Green Bay, and the Green Bay Packers to host the second annual “Believe” event at St. Agnes.

One hundred children and 66 adults experiencing homelessness attended the holiday event. They enjoyed a turkey dinner, music, and a visit by Green Bay Packers player Jon Runyon. Jon showed everyone the cleats that he wore in a game to show his support of St. Vincent DePaul. The bright blue shoes feature the words SVDP Green Bay, Help Us Help Others and the St. Vincent de Paul logo. Jon participates in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, and the cleats show his commitment to St. Vincent de Paul and the homeless they serve. My Cause My Cleats allows players to show their dedication to a cause that’s important to them.

Each family who attended “Believe” received wrapped gifts. Additionally, Hope Center Pantry supplied bags of food to hand out to families. It’s amazing what difference organizations can make when they work together! Hope Center Pantry partners with St. Vincent de Paul and the Green Bay Packers for various initiatives. To get involved at Hope Center, contact us about volunteer opportunities.

Food Assistance: Pantry Serves 1,489 in November

Joan Koehne
ham on a platter like ham that Hope Center Pantry gave to clients as food assistance

The Hope Center Pantry collaborates with the Green Bay West-side Catholic churches to break the cycle of poverty. The mission of the Hope Center is to serve and guide those who are in need, empower and support others. To fulfill this mission, Hope Center Pantry provides nutritious meals for more than a thousand individuals experiencing food insecurity in the Green Bay area.

Putting Turkey, Ham on Holiday Tables

Monthly food assistance provides families with nutritious meals. In November, the panty gave away 33 turkeys to clients, and in December, the panty gave away 24 hams. The turkeys and hams were welcomed additions to clients’ Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

Providing Food Assistance in 2023

As 2023 comes to an end, the food pantry totaled its food assistance numbers to determine the pantry’s impact on feeding the hungry of Green Bay.

  • In January 2023, Hope Center Pantry served 471 clients representing 1,774 family members.
  • In May 2023, Hope Center Pantry served 593 clients representing 2,319 family members.
  • In August 2023, Hope Center Pantry served 374 clients, representing 1,425 family members.
  • In November 2023, Hope Center Pantry served 417 clients representing 1,489 family members.

Filling Boxes for Hungry Families of All Sizes

Hope Center Pantry, 505 Clinton St., Green Bay WI, permits clients to pick up food for their households once a month. The pantry fills the food assistance boxes of different sizes, based on the size of the client’s family. The cost to fill each box varies, but the approximate costs are:

  • X-Large family – $53.48
  • Large family – $45.10
  • Small family – $32.65
  • Single family – $21.61

Working to End Food Insecurity in Green Bay

Hope Center Pantry volunteers are committed to helping the hungry of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The pantry is working to end food insecurity, helping the hungry be hopeful and well-fed in Brown County. To be a part of Hope Center Pantry, visit How You Can Help for information about donating and volunteering.