Category: Pantry Volunteers

At age 82, Fred Lamont is an admirable example of giving back to his community! In his career, Fred was an internal medicine physician. He and his wife, Kathy, adopted two sons from Russia. When Fred retired in 2000, the boys were 11 and 12 years old. Therefore, travelling extensively in retirement was not an option.

Literacy Tutor and Clinic Volunteer

Until two years ago, he volunteered at the NEW Community Clinic one morning a week. He started tutoring for Literacy Green Bay when he retired and still tutors there today. He was ready to start volunteering at St. Patrick’s Pantry when he fractured his ankle. That put his pantry volunteering on hold as he first had to let his ankle heal after surgery.

Securing a New Home for Hope Center Pantry

As a member of the Spirituality Group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Parish, Fred worked with the group and Fr. Don Everts at the Quad Parishes to secure a new site for the pantry. With the help of fundraising, they were able to purchase a credit union building on Green Bay’s west side. Fr. Don assembled a team to remodel the building to accommodate the pantry and Love Life West. This building is now called the Hope Center Pantry. The new building was a huge improvement over the old location since it has no stairs and much more room.

Rewarding Experiences as a Pantry Volunteer

Fred began volunteering at the pantry at the current site. He is scheduled to work at the pantry on Mondays once or twice a month. However, with back issues, Fred isn’t able to do heavy lifting. He sorts donations and fills client orders. He also brings the food donations from SEAS Parish over to the pantry a couple times a month and usually stays to help sort the donations. His volunteer experience at the pantry has been great and very rewarding.

Fred’s Philosophy of Volunteering

As a pantry volunteer, Fred has come to realize that volunteers are needed more and more. His volunteering philosophy is as follows:

1. What needs to be done?
2. What can I do physically to serve others as Jesus did?

Once a volunteer answers these questions, then they should pick two or three charities to volunteer for and get to work. Fred encourages others to volunteer at the Hope Center Pantry (formerly St. Patrick’s Pantry).

“It is a nice place to work, and the needs there are growing,” he said.

Are you ready to join Fred and the other volunteers who are feeding the hungry of Green Bay, Wisconsin? Contact us today to learn about the volunteer opportunities available at Hope Center Pantry.

An ad in the St. Agnes Church bulletin asking for help led Bev Goodreau to St. Patrick’s Food Pantry 18 years ago. When St. Patrick’s Food Pantry transitioned to Hope Center Pantry, Bev joined the Hope Center team. She has been a manager for 8 years and finds great satisfaction in feeding the hungry. Here’s her story.

“My greatest joy at the pantry is the clients. Seeing the smiles on their faces when they see the generous box of food they receive makes the job even more heartwarming.”

-Bev Goodreau, Hope Center Volunteer and Manager

Upper Michigan Native

I’m a proud Yooper. I was born in Escanaba, Michigan, and raised in Schaffer, Michigan. I attended St. Joe’s Elementary/Middle school and Holy Name High school in Escanaba, Michigan. Go Crusaders!

Family in Colorado and Wisconsin

I married the most wonderful man and had 48 joyous years with him until I lost him to cancer. Together, we have two sons, Marc and Kurt. Marc lives in Denver, CO and is a middle school math teacher; he has two sons, Jack and Sam. Jack lives in Vail, CO and works for Vail’s park and recreation district. Sam lives in Centennial, CO and is a financial administrator for a car leasing company. Kurt lives in Sobieski, WI and is an ATF agent for the state of WI; and has a daughter, Mackenzie and a son, Ben. Mackenzie is a Speech Language Pathologist in Amery, WI. Ben is a Sauk County Sheriff Deputy living in Baraboo, WI.

Happily Retired from Career with Sears

My working career was with Sears. I started as a teletype operator (I’m really dating myself). Soon, I became the HR director, followed by several promotions, and retired as the Operations Manager. I am happily retired.

Church Volunteer and Greeter

I am a member of St. Agnes Parish and volunteer for the parish. You’ll find me as a Greeter at one of the doors any given Saturday at the 4:15pm Mass. I also volunteer for the church festival.

Serving the Community as Pantry Volunteer

Working for Hope Center Pantry has given me much joy and satisfaction. I have met and worked with such amazing volunteers. What a fantastic way to serve my community. God Bless!

For some people, retirement represents a time to sit back, relax and talk about the good old days. However, for Jim and Holly Pecard, retirement presented a time for new challenges, a time to give back, and a time to meet new people and to make a difference in some small way in our community.

From Healthcare to Heartfelt Service

Holly retired from nursing in 2020. She was an LPN at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital for over 20 years on the rehab floor. She then transferred to Prevea Health, where she worked for another 20 plus years in spine care. Holly has a strong passion to serve others, combined with a need to have fun while meeting new and interesting people. This led her to a mission of volunteer work.

She started with the Hope Center Pantry in 2020, but soon expanded to volunteer roles as a reader at Lincoln Elementary School, a guide for veterans on the Old Glory Honor Flight, an advocate for students seeking work experience at the ADRC Grounded Café, a camp counselor for challenged campers attending Camp Daniel, and a player guide with the Miracle League. She has also volunteered for special events such as Coats for Kids, the Return to School Readiness Program, and the Toys for Tots program. If you know Holly, she likes to be busy and can build fun into whatever she takes on.

A Social Worker’s Dedication to Community Well-Being

Joining her in this new phase of life, Jim took a similar approach to giving back to the community by doing volunteer work. Jim is a licensed clinical social worker that has worked in the Employee Assistance field for over 40 years. He currently works two days a week for Employee Resource Center Inc. (ERC) providing mental health counseling to employees and their families. Jim has also worked for Kimberly Clark Corporations EAP in Neenah and Family Services of Brown County.

Together in Service at Hope Center Pantry

Like other couples, Jim and Holly enjoy working together at the pantry. Jim was pleasantly surprised when he discovered that several other pantry volunteers were previous coworkers of his. This included Ellen Moran, George Kamps, and Therese Hathway. Jim and Holly recognize how rewarding the pantry work is and find the pantry recipients to be extremely grateful for its services.

Leadership in Church, Scouts and Community

Jim’s other volunteer work includes over 35 years with Boy Scout Troop 1008 and the Knights of Columbus at the Quad Parish. He is also on the Board of Directors for ADRC, and a member of the Brown County Transportation Coordinating Committee.

Beyond Retirement: Jim & Holly’s Volunteer Legacy

Jim and Holly are both from Marinette, Wisconsin, and met in high school. They have been married for 47 years and have two sons, James IV and Matthew. Their pride and joy is their 7-year-old granddaughter, Veronica, who resides with Jim and Maria in Lincoln Park, Illinois. When they are not volunteering, Jim and Holly enjoy spoiling their granddaughter, lying on a Florida beach or spending time at Kelly Lake with family and friends. They are devoted Packer fans that are fortunate to have season tickets. Jim and Holly will tell you that they are blessed in many ways and hope that their volunteer work makes a difference in some small way in another person’s life.

Sue Rohan works for social justice in a variety of capacities. Her story of altruism includes 17 years of volunteerism at Hope Center Food Pantry.

I have been a pantry volunteer for the last 17 years. (Yikes! I had to look it up, and can’t believe it’s been that long.) This summer I took on the manager role twice monthly. Every group of volunteers I work with is committed to providing our clients what they need and in a very friendly and caring manner. It’s truly a pleasure to spend these Wednesdays at the pantry.

Meet Pantry Volunteer Sue Rohan

I grew up in Green Bay and graduated from a nursing program in Madison. I worked as a registered nurse at Bellin Hospital for 37 years before retiring. I reached the point where my grandchildren began arriving, and I wanted to spend more time with them.

Social Justice in Action

But not working left a void in my life, and that’s when social justice became my focus. I volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Green Bay, became very involved with the COTS program (now St. John’s homeless shelter) and I joined the disaster team at the Red Cross. I spent several weeks working in shelters in Florida after Hurricane Wilma affected that area. A few years later, I did a mission trip to Haiti (the hardest thing I ever did). I learned how blessed we are to live where we do.

Annual Medical Mission to Uganda

The past 10 years, I have been a part of a grassroots group known as MANU (Medical Aid to Northern Uganda). Our small group does an annual medical mission to that area where we see people out in the bush who have no access to medical doctors. An American doctor is part of our team, and we usually use two Ugandan doctors to help us at our “clinics.” There we screen folks for diabetes and heart disease and provide them with any needed medications. This mission has truly taken hold of my heart, and our group fundraises during the year to purchase the needed meds for our next mission. We also help to support a hospital in northern Uganda.

Resurrection Parish, St. Vincent de Paul & Gardening Club

I’m an active member of Resurrection Parish and part of their health and wellness committee. I continue to volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul and am part of a group who provides monthly meals to Freedom House. I’m also the treasurer of the Gardeners Club of Green Bay.

Family Life as Grandmother to 4

My husband, Rich, and I have been married 53 years and we have two children. Our son, Derek, lives with his family in Georgia. Our daughter, Amy, and her family live in Sun Prairie. We have two grandsons and two granddaughters, and they have been such a blessing to us.

Privileged to be Hope Center Pantry Volunteer

I enjoy traveling, reading, gardening and playing bridge. I consider it a privilege to be part of the Hope Center Pantry team.

Hope Center Pantry volunteers make a lasting impact by feeding the hungry in Brown County, Wisconsin. The pantry offers many different ways to volunteer. Contact us to learn how you can join Sue and the other pantry volunteers who are making a difference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I have been a volunteer at the pantry for about 10 years. I’m a member of St. Norbert College Parish. I sing in the choir and I am active in a number of parish ministries. I was born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and graduated from St. Norbert College and never left the area. I live in Ashwaubenon. I have one son. Brian and his wife, Candace, have two daughters: Madalyn, 14, finishing eighth grade and Alisha, 12, finishing sixth grade. They live in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Career in Accounting Education

My profession was accounting and income tax, but my career was 30 years of teaching in the Accounting Program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. I still work during the income tax season, even though I have been retired from teaching since 2010.

Embroidery, Biking & Traveling

I am a member of the Green Bay Area Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and enjoy a variety of embroidery forms. I enjoy biking. I have an e-bike, and that helps keep me confident that I can go the distance! I enjoy traveling to North Carolina and just about anywhere. In October 2022, I spent two weeks in the Holy Land and just recently returned from Zambia, Africa.

Being a Pantry Volunteer is a Blessing

I look forward to my time at the Hope Center Pantry each month, and I loved working with all the volunteers organizing the food from the recent food drives. It’s a blessing to be a part of an organization that is making a difference in the lives of people in our community.

Schedule a Pantry Volunteer Visit Today

Contact us about volunteer opportunities or to schedule a visit to the pantry to experience volunteerism first-hand. The pantry is open 1-3pm Monday through Thursday at 505 Clinton St. Green Bay. Read the How You Can Help information to learn more. Volunteers provide an essential service to those in need in the Green Bay area. Thank you, Rita, and all of the volunteers at Hope Center Pantry.

Hope Center Pantry volunteers make a lasting impact by feeding the hungry in Brown County, Wisconsin. The pantry offers many different ways to volunteer. Here’s a good example. Cathy Harrison is not your typical volunteer at the Hope Center Pantry. She started about 10 years ago sorting, packing, and distributing food to the needy but now works behind the scenes. She spends her volunteer time on a computer.

Tracking Food & Monetary Donations

Cathy documents the client activity to track how many people Hope Center Pantry helps and the impact the pantry makes. This is critical to ensure that benefactors and organizations providing grants continue to contribute food, money, and time. As a result, Hope Center Pantry can assist more people.

Volunteering for Food Drives

Cathy and her husband, Tom, also pitch in when Hope Center Pantry needs extra help. For example, the annual Boy Scout food drive, Scouting for Food, brings in four pallets of food donations for Hope Center Pantry alone. Hope Center Pantry needs extra volunteers to process the nonperishable food donations from annual food drives.

“It’s a great feeling to help people in need and to do something worthwhile,” Cathy said. “Food is a basic necessity, and the need keeps growing, especially now that everything is getting more expensive. I chose to volunteer at Hope Center Pantry because it’s in my community, and I can see the immediate impact.”

Making Friends, Building Community

Cathy has met a lot of kind people by volunteering for Hope Center Pantry. Volunteers from seven Catholic parishes on the West Side of Green Bay support the pantry’s day-to-day operations. The seven parishes are the Quad Parishes of Annunciation, St. Joseph, and St. Jude, along with Nativity of Our Lord, St. Agnes, St. Patrick, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. However, volunteers are not required to be a member of one of these Catholic parishes.

Making a Lasting Impact

Contact us about volunteer opportunities or to schedule a visit to the pantry to experience volunteerism first-hand. The pantry is open 1-3pm Monday through Thursday at 505 Clinton St. Green Bay. Read the How You Help information to learn more. Volunteers provide an essential service to those in need in the Green Bay area. Thank you, Cathy, Tom, and all of the volunteers at Hope Center Pantry.

Originally published by Decided Excellence Catholic Media in Green Bay Parish Neighbors

Article by Joan Koehne | Photo by Timothy Mayer Artworks

Sixteen months is a long time to be unemployed, especially if you have a baby on the way. That’s the scary predicament that John and Lynne Tennie faced 35 years ago. Lynne, a teacher, resigned to stay at home with the baby at the same time that John quit his job, thinking the next job was just around the corner. Little did they know that a recession was going to hit at the same time. The experience taught them an important life lesson.

“Pray, pray, pray and trust, trust, trust in God and his mercy and graces,” Lynne said. John finally found work managing Walgreens stores, a career that took the family to several different cities in Wisconsin. 

“This experience taught us that a house is not a home, money does not sustain you, and miracles are everywhere,” Lynne said.

In every city where they lived, John and Lynne Tennie sought out a Catholic church to worship in. 

“The parishes offered us community as well as ways to deepen our faith,” Lynne said. The Tennies have been parishioners at Catholic churches in Combined Locks, Fond du lac, Medford, and Waupaca. 

“Whether hosting a RENEW group, teaching a preschool religious education class, or exploring God’s word through scripture studies, we would feel a calling to help, share and belong,” Lynne said.

The last four years, the Tennies have been members of Nativity of Our Lord Parish where they team-teach a Confirmation class of 14 spirit-filled youth.

“Nativity Parish is a vibrant parish with many activities and outreach opportunities to be a part of.  John and I really like the openness of the parish and the way they emulate Jesus’ mission of loving others,” Lynne said.

Married for 42 years, the Tennies met at UW-Oshkosh. They were both in the same Speech class, and even though they commuted to college from different communities, they kept bumping into each other.

“We both loved to dance, which drew us to each other. We kept showing up at the same dance clubs,” Lynne said.  

Lynne, a Menasha native, graduated with bachelor degrees in Art Education and Spanish Education. John, who attended Greenville and Hortonville schools, earned a Business Administration degree with an emphasis in marketing.

Lynne taught high school Spanish and Art in Wild Rose, elementary and middle school Spanish at Holy Family School, and recently retired after 11 years teaching Spanish at Chappell Elementary School. John worked for K Mart, Hartford Insurance, and Walgreens, retiring after 35 years with the company.

The Tennies have four grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, biking, and spending time with their family. Lynne loves to paint, draw and do crafts, while John loves professional sports (especially the Packers) fishing, camping and yard work.

John and Lynne volunteer at the Hope Center Pantry, NEW Community Shelter, and Chappell Elementary School, where they help first-grade and second-grade students with reading and math. They serve on the Cystic Fibrosis Walk committee in Green Bay and volunteer for events like the Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack and Make a Difference Day.

The saint they try to emulate is Mother Teresa because they are inspired by her love for others and these simple words: “Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting, with a smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God.”

In the Tennie household, mealtime always begins with prayer.

“We pray a mealtime prayer together at every meal to remind ourselves of the wonderful gifts God has given us. It seems like a simple thing to do, but it helps us sit down together as a family and treasure this time together,” Lynne said.

Gratefulness flows through their lives, and they encourage others to recognize God’s many blessings.

“Life is a journey,” Lynne said. “Do not spend it with a monetary goal in mind or cultural riches. Accumulate graces that will build you up and help you be the person God wants you to be. We were made for heaven – not for this earth”

Hope Center Pantry volunteers make a lasting impact by feeding the hungry in Brown County, Wisconsin. The pantry offers many different ways to volunteer. Here’s Chris Kalishek’s story of his life adventures that includes volunteering at our food pantry.

By Chris Kalishek, Hope Center Food Pantry Volunteer

I have been volunteering at the St. Patrick’s Food Pantry (now Hope Center Food Pantry) for about six years and really enjoy the nice people I work with. They are all great folks.

Early Years and Educational Pursuits

I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we moved to Green Bay in 1963. I went to Jackson Elementary School, Franklin Middle School and then graduated from West High School. After high school, I attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and then transferred to their new campus in Prescott, Arizona, where I earned an Associate Degree in Aeronautical Science.

Adventures in Aviation and a Passion for Sailing

I went back to school at UW-Green Bay and was working on my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry while working full time at the airport. I worked at Green Bay Aviation on the flight line, refueling airplanes. One of the perks of the job was a great discount on renting airplanes. So, I was flying a lot and earned my Commercial/Instrument pilot license.

I also got involved with the university sailing team and was teaching sailing at the UW-Green Bay sailing center. I raced sailboats on the Great Lakes as a crew member of the Fancy Free, a 39 ft. racing boat. I had the opportunity to compete five times in the annual Chicago/Mackinac yacht race where we set a record one year having made the 300-mile trip in just 27 hours.

Working with Hazelton Laboratories and Hewlett-Packard

After I graduated from UW-Green Bay with a degree in Chemistry, I took my first job in Madison at Hazelton Laboratories where I specialized in Environmental Chemistry. My next job was with Hewlett-Packard as an Engineer for their Scientific Instrument division. There I received training in electronic repair as well as computer programming and repair. I travelled all over the world with Hewlett-Packard and enjoyed 27 years working for that great company.

Organizing Vintage Scooters Rallies

While employed with Hewlett-Packard, I started a vintage scooter club in Madison and held annual rallies that grew every year. The last one had over 100 vintage Vespa meter scooters. I wrote articles for the European Scootering magazine where my club was featured. I also got a free subscription to the magazine.

Taking Flight in an Antique Airplane

I bought my first airplane, a 1946 Luscombe model 8A, and had the adventure of a lifetime flying it home from Manitoba, Canada. That was a 1,500-mile trip in winter in my antique airplane with no radios and a compass that didn’t read correctly. At the private airport where I kept the Luscombe, the hangar next door had a Sonerai racing plane. Because there was no door on the building, I would see the little airplane every time I was at the airport but had never met the owner.

The next summer, I flew my airplane to the EAA air show and camped out for a week under the wing. While watching the daily air show, a man came up to me and introduced himself. It was the owner of the little racing airplane. We talked for a while and then he informed me that there was a Sonerai 1 race plane for sale but I only had a few days to make the deal happen.

Formula V Air Thrilling Racing Career

Anyway, that was how I got into Formula V Air Racing and started flying in air shows around the country. I had a short but successful racing career being the first “rookie” to get a first-place victory on my very first race. I’m also only the second person to survive a mid-air collision in an air race. The only other person to survive was Astronaut “Hoot” Gibson. I built another racer but was never successful in getting the racing going again. I still fly whenever possible and I’m always looking for my next airplane. But in the meantime, I bought and restored a 1978 Triumph Spitfire sports car and I drive it as much as I can to all the car shows in the Green Bay area.  

Join Chris as a Food Pantry Volunteer Today

Volunteers provide an essential community service by feeding the hungry in the Green Bay area of Northeast Wisconsin. Thank you, Carol, and all of the volunteers at Hope Center Pantry. Contact us about volunteer opportunities or to schedule a visit to the pantry to experience volunteerism first-hand. The pantry is open 1-3pm Monday through Thursday at 505 Clinton St. Green Bay. Read the How You Can Help information to learn more.

Originally published by Decided Excellence Catholic Media in Green Bay Parish Neighbors

Article by Joan Koehne | Photo by Timothy Mayer Artworks

Thirty-five years ago, Nancy and John Selinsky prayed for a miracle. Their son, Nick, was born prematurely at 30 weeks. His lungs hadn’t fully formed, so the doctors didn’t give the family much hope. So, Nancy sought help from the Lord by praying the St. Theresa Novena taught to her by her mother.

“St. Theresa is known for answering prayers with what I call ‘the sign of the rose.’ When St. Theresa intercedes for you, you will see a rose in an unusual place,” Nancy said. This is exactly what happened. As Nancy and John left the hospital and crossed the street, John noticed a small plastic rose with a little rosebud attached.

“There’s your rose,” he said to Nancy.

“I still have it and keep it with Nick’s baptismal gown,” Nancy said. “Within days his lungs improved, and he was out of the hospital in a month.”

Nancy and John belong to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish where they both sing in the adult choir. Their son, Nick, also sings in the choir, and daughter, Chelsea, sang in the choir until conflicts arose with her nursing schedule.

“Music at Mass is very important to me,” Nancy said. “At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we’re blessed to have an awesome young lady, Maria Hinnendael, as our choir director, several wonderful pianists, cantors with amazing voices, and choirs that always do a marvelous job helping the congregation praise God.”

In fact, music is what brought the Selinskys into the parish. John’s brother, Ed, was leading the adult choir in 1994, and John and Nancy decided to attend Sunday Mass before a family get-together.

“The music was so awesome that we became members the following week. We’ve been members ever since,” Nancy said. “No matter what Mass you attend, the music is always amazing.”

In addition to participating in music ministry, Nancy volunteers at the Hope Center Food Pantry, collaboratively operated by several West Side parishes, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“I’m glad we’re able to offer food to people in the area that don’t have the money to shop and buy things the way I wish everyone could,” Nancy said. “It’s eye opening to see the needy people in the Green Bay area.”

John grew up in Green Bay and graduated from Premontre High School, while Nancy grew up in Manitowoc, attended St. Andrew’s through eighth grade and graduated from Roncalli High School. John and Nancy met at a bar called Little Chicago Inn and were married in 1976 at St. Paul’s Church in Manitowoc. Both of their dads worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.

“From the beginning, it felt like we were meant to be together. And it still feels that way,” Nancy said.

Nancy attended Bellin Hospital School for Laboratory Technique and worked in various medical clinics, most recently a cancer clinic. She retired six years ago. John worked as a service rep for Paper Converting Machine Company in Ashwaubenon. He traveled the world setting up new paper converting machines or repairing old ones.

John and Nancy spend their mornings working out. They like to run, use the elliptical machine, lift weights at the YMCA, or participate in Nancy’s sister’s Zoom exercise class. Nancy also enjoys golfing, reading, attending concerts, cooking, and playing with their grandson, Eli, 3.

“And don’t let me fool you. I also like sitting with my feet up reading the paper and watching TV,” she said.

Nancy is a self-proclaimed cat person, so the family always has a cat. The family’s first and second cats each lived 14 years. They were orange tiger cats, and both were named Herbie.

“Our current cat is also an orange tiger, but female, so no Herbie. Her name is Candy Girl, named after the Four Seasons song,” Nancy said.

The Selinsky family motto is simple – the golden rule. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Like all families, the Selinskys have faced their share of challenges in life.

“My faith helps me through all the trials of daily life, from which no one is immune. Whenever I feel like I need help, I say a prayer for direction, and my prayers have never been ignored,” Nancy said.

Like that day 35 years ago, John and Nancy continue to place their trust in the Lord.

“I wonder how we’d make it without our faith in God,” Nancy said.