Category: Volunteers

Stamp Out Hunger Delivers 10K Pounds of Food

Joan Koehne
volunteers who assisted at Stamp Out Hunger for Hope Center Pantry

On a beautiful Saturday in May the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) held their 30th annual Food Drive, called Stamp Out Hunger. The mail carriers pick up donated food on their routes for the pantries in their neighborhood. Hope Center Pantry is extremely grateful that our Brown County postal carriers collected food for the needy as part of their community service effort.

30 Pantry Volunteers Assist at Stamp Out Hunger

Our Hope Center Food Pantry received approximately 10,000 pounds of food from Stamp Out Hunger. Last year, we received approximately 6,000 pounds from the food drive. We couldn’t have done this without over 30 volunteers. They stepped up to help us with this huge food drive. Some of our volunteers followed the letter carriers to collect food donations. Additionally, some volunteered at the Post Office on Packerland Drive. They took the nonperishable food donations from vehicles and loaded the food into totes.

A Team Effort to Unload, Sort & Store Donations

One of our partner agencies, Serenity House of Green Bay, helped us out at the Post Office this year. The Hope Center Pantry volunteers unloaded the totes, sorted food and put food into our storage area. It was a team effort!

Thankful for This Annual Food Drive

Time and time again, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community to help out our Pantry clients that are in need of a little extra help with their groceries. The quality of the items we received from Stamp Out Hunger was unbelievable. Thank you to all that made this happen! To become a Hope Center Pantry volunteer for food drives like Stamp Out Hunger, contact us today. We’re grateful for the outpouring of community support.

Food Donations Pour in from Scouting for Food

Joan Koehne

What do you get when you combine troops of Boy Scouts and a dozen committed volunteers?
Answer: A well-stocked Hope Center Pantry, of course!

Hope Center Pantry volunteers prepare to process food donations from Scouting for Food

Boy Scouts’ 36th Annual Food Drive

The Bay-Lakes Council Boy Scouts of America sponsored the 36th annual Scouting Food drive on Saturday, April 27. Here’s how the food drive worked. The scouts dropped off empty bags at homes in their neighborhood on April 20. The bags included a list of suggested food items to donate. Then, the Boy Scouts collected the food donations on the morning of April 27. They brought the nonperishable food to Lambeau Field to be distributed to pantries in Brown County. (Check out our 2021 Scouting for Food report.)

Pantry Volunteers Process the Food Donations

The Hope Center Pantry received three full totes of food. Twelve volunteers waited eagerly at the Pantry to help unload, sort, and store the food when it arrived. In 75 minutes, we had the job completed. The proverb “Many hands make light work!” is true.

Thanks to the Boy Scouts & Donors

Hope Center Pantry appreciates everyone who donated to Scouting for Food. Additionally, we thank the Boy Scouts for running food drive every year. With these food donations on our shelves, we can help the hungry in the Green Bay community.

Feeding the Hungry of Brown County WI

In 2023, Hope Center Pantry served 370 to 590 clients every month. As the cost of groceries remains high, the Pantry provides valuable assistance to those in need. Hope Center Pantry is open from 1-3pm Monday through Thursday. We serve the hungry in Green Bay and Brown County, Wisconsin. Join us on our mission by donating or volunteering today. Contact us to learn more.

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.

Family Radio Sponsors Help for the Homeless

Joan Koehne
Family Radio sponsors Help for the Homeless personal hygiene drive

Every year, Family Radio sponsors a “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive. This year, Hope Center Pantry participated in the drive for the first time. Our Pantry gives hygiene products to our clients, and now we have more toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other personal hygiene items available.

Donations Go to 121 Crisis Programs

Many businesses and churches participated in Help for the Homeless. Family Radio broadcasts to 20 Wisconsin communities in the radio station’s listening areas. The drive began Feb. 11 and ended March 3. In total, Family Radio collected over $604,000 worth of hygiene products and cleaning supplies. These donations went to 121 crisis programs in 20 communities across Wisconsin.

Pantry Benefits from Help for the Homeless

The Hope Center Pantry was one of 24 local crisis programs in Brown County to receive the donations from Help for the Homeless. On March 7, each program sent three volunteers to Green Bay Community Church. The volunteers sorted, counted and distributed 37,987 donated items that were valued at $101,823.22.

Contact Us to Organize a Personal Hygiene Drive

We were awestruck by the generous outpouring of support from Brown County residents. Hope Center Pantry clients are so fortunate to have such great quality hygiene items available to them. Thanks, Family Radio! Contact us to learn how to organize a personal hygiene drive at your business or nonprofit.

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.

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.

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.

Halloween Bash: Fun Night and Food Drive

Joan Koehne
Food drive donations for Hope Center Pantry

It wasn’t scary at all to collect food for the Hope Center Pantry. Two local companies combine efforts to create a fun evening and help stock the food supplies at Hope Center Pantry. On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, the Alpha Team and Rogue Endeavors hosted their twelfth annual Halloween Boo Bash. The event was held at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center in downtown Green Bay. The theme was “A Night at the Movies.” Attendees were encouraged to dress as their favorite movie character. There were complimentary drinks, snacks, movie trivia games, and casino games.

1 in 5 Kids Face Hunger in Brown County, WI

Admittance to this event was a food donation. Why? Because 1 in 5 children in the Brown County area struggle to get enough to eat. This is a great way for these organization to put on a food drive to help support our local community. Who doesn’t enjoy socializing for a cause? There were over 150 attendees at this event. Hope Center Pantry couldn’t be more thrilled to be the recipients of so much, high-quality food.

Food Drive Shows Community Generosity

When our volunteers were sorting all of the donations from the food drive, there were so many squeals of delight. You made the volunteers day! But, even better than that, you made a difference to the lives of Hope Center Pantry clients. They know there are many generous folks in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to help them out. This Halloween event helped the Alpha Team and Rogue Endeavors reach their 2023 goal of collecting 100,000 pounds of food for local pantries.

To learn how to organize a food drive for your company or nonprofit organization, contact us.

Food Insecurity: Pantry Serves 1,425 in August

Joan Koehne
Hope Center Pantry volunteers transport food to Green Bay to address food insecurity

Hope Center Pantry continues to see many new clients facing food insecurity in Brown County, Wisconsin. From January to August of 2023, the pantry registered over 500 new clients. For the month of August, Hope Center Pantry served 374 clients, representing a total of 1,425 family members. That’s a very large number considering clients are permitted to visit Hope Center Pantry just once a month to pick up food for their households.

1 in 9 Veterans Experience Food Insecurity

The only exception is for military veterans and active military personnel, who can pick up food at the pantry once a week. They fought for our country, and therefore, Hope Center Pantry supports them through tough times. Hope Center Pantry’s Veterans hours are from 3-5pm on the second and third Tuesdays of the month. According to Feeding America, 1 in 9 working-age veterans live in a food insecure household, and 24 percent of active-duty service members were food insecure in 2020. Hope Center Pantry is doing something about it, by extending pantry hours and staffing the pantry with military veterans’ needs in mind.

Feeding the Hungry in Brown County

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.