Community Corner
Muskego Food Pantry Sees Growing Demand
The Muskego Food Pantry, which helps some 450 people in the Muskego area, could use some help of its own.
As Wendy Gajewski makes her way through the Muskego Food Pantry, she can't help but point out all the empty space on the shelves.
There's gaps where there should be instant potatoes, rice and canned goods. Large swaths of vacant real estate where the pantry needs canned meats, pasta and peanut butter.
More bare shelves are in the warehouse area, where the pantry keeps food items in bulk.
"These shelves are empty," Gajewski says, "and they shouldn't be."
About 140 families—some 450 people in total—depend on the Muskego pantry as a food source.
And that number is growing, Gajewski said. So while donations to the pantry have remained steady, they aren't enough to meet the increased demand.
Gajewski and the other 30 or so volunteers that keep the Muskego Food Pantry afloat are encouraging residents to help out any way they can. This time of year can be tough for food pantries, which typically see low donation numbers in the late summer months before peaking in November and December.
On Monday, the facility hosted Feeding America's Mobile Food Pantry, which set up in parking lot to help needy families in Muskego.
The Muskego Food Pantry is designed specifically for residents in the Muskego area—which also includes Wind Lake and Big Bend—though Gajewski said the pantry won't turn anyone away.
"If you're standing at the door and need food," you will be served, she said.
The pantry was founded in April 2009 moved into its current facility, on Mercury Drive in the Muskego Industrial Park, in November 2011.
The building itself is a donation from InPro Corporation, which owns the facility but does not charge rent.
In addition to food, the pantry provides services such as flu shots, and it has a nurse occasionally stop in. The pantry also stocks pet food and baby items for its members, who are allowed to come in every other week.
Residents wishing to help the Muskego Food Pantry can contribute when they do their own grocery shopping—donation barrels are set up at Pick 'n Save, Walmart and Piggly Wiggly.
The pantry is open for donations from 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays and by appointment.
See more information on the Muskego Food Pantry website and Facebook page.
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