Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach offers a proclamation to Paul's Pantry on World Food Day. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Oct. 16 is World Hunger Day, a day designed to increase awareness, understanding, and informed year-round action to alleviate hunger.
To coincide with World Food Day, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach presented the team at Paul’s Pantry in Green Bay with a proclamation.
It not only recognizes the day, but also the work the organization does to fight hunger in the region.
“Places like this really play a vital role to make sure our community has the necessary resources to be successful in our community and it’s amazing to see the work that’s being done here for our overall community,” said Streckenbach.
That work and support, for those in need, continues to grow at a record breaking rate. According to Paul’s Pantry officials, the pantry distributed 4.5 million pounds of food in the past year, marking the busiest it’s ever been in its 39-year history.
According to Bob Hornacek with Paul’s Pantry, “We served 4,300 registered households. Those households made a total of more than 50,000 visits for groceries here.”
The month of September saw more families seeking aid than ever before. The pantry reported it served, on average, 234 families a day — up more than 50 families per day pre-pandemic.
“I’d be lost without it. They do a really nice job. And the fresh produce is really good too,” said John, a food pantry shopper.
Visitors to the pantry are struggling to put food on the table after taking care of other living expenses first.
“What we are hearing is inflation, the cost of living, rent especially. A lot of folks are telling us that their rent has gone up $200 or $300 a month and they just don’t have any money,” said Craig Robbins with Paul’s Pantry.
But just as the need has increased, so has the support for the pantry — not only in food donations, but in volunteer hours.
Hornacek added, “We’re receiving more donations than ever before and every measure we have for volunteers is up.”
The generosity of the community is working like the miracle of loaves and fishes to ensure everyone has food on the table.
“Everyone can make a difference in the lives of other. And whether that is one can of soup or a truck load of soup, it all comes together and it’s multiplied and we never have run out of food, so it’s really amazing to see this in operation,” said Robbins.
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