GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The name Leo Frigo might not elicit the same admiration from those in Green Bay compared to their most famous citizens, which reside at Lambeau Field.
But for those at Paul’s Pantry in Green Bay, it’s a different story.
“I’m sorry Aaron Rodgers you only take number two, because my hero is going to be Leo Frigo,” says Craig Beyl, board president with Paul’s Pantry.
Organization leaders gathered with volunteers and city officials on Wednesday for the pantry’s 35th-anniversary ceremony.
Paul’s Pantry was founded by Leo Frigo on Valentines Day in 1984 and since then they’ve been busy at work.
“Our volunteers have logged an incredible 3.1 million hours [of service],” explains executive director, Craig Robbins.
He adds that they have distributed over 119 million pounds of food and that the cost comes at only 18 cents per pound.
Robbins gave a brief history of their organization and spoke towards the incredible character of their founder.
Frigo was the retired president of Frigo Cheese when he decided to devote the remainder of his life to serve those in need.
He had first-hand knowledge with how much food goes to waste and knew there was an opportunity to allocate unsalable, but edible, food to those in the community that go without reliable nutrition.
Frigo eventually passed away from a car crash eighteen years ago, but his legacy lives on in a strong way at Paul’s Pantry.
“All the accomplishments that Leo has, especially with the pantry here, and you’re looking for a hero… he’s your guy,” says Beyl.
Leo’s legacy even lives on at Paul’s Pantry in terms of the food that they have available to the community.
Robbins noted that they have fresh fruit, vegetables, jams, and plenty of other things, but one item will always be a staple.
“And of course we purchase pasta,” he explains. “Having an Italian founder, we have to have pasta.”
Dozens of volunteers were on hand for the ceremony, which represented the communities commitment to service throughout the decades.
“What makes Brown County so special? The answer is you,” says Robbins.
Bishop David Ricken led those in attendance in a brief opening and closing prayer and putting a bow on the ceremony was Celestine Jeffreys, the Chief of Staff for Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt.
She read a proclamation from the mayor, which declared Wednesday, February 13, as Paul’s Pantry Appreciation Day.
