(Beaver Dam) After some delays, the new 24/7/365 food pantry within the Beaver Dam Habitat for Humanity ReStore, has a grand opening in sight. May 1st will mark the completion of the Food is Free Beaver Dam food pantry. ReStore manager Laura Goral says Food is Free Beaver Dam is a non-traditional food pantry, part of a global movement, that focuses on the decentralization of food sources.
Seen as a whole community project, Goral explains that grants and donations helped offset the cost of the project. Since it’s conception, the pantry has received four grants with $1500 in matching donations, and $8000 in community donations, equaling about $15,000 in monetary and in-kind donations.
Goral says, this includes work provided by WDS construction putting a hole in the building, and Hometown Glass and Improvement putting a door in that hole. Central Wisconsin Christian sent a student group to relocate an interior wall, Sunsations Electric ran electrical, and Interquest put up security cameras. Additionally for her Eagle Scout project, Jacqueline Fogarty brought in a team to paint and prep the walls.
Goral says thanks to the community’s involvement the new pantry space will help battle food inequities in a way that doesn’t make individuals feel singled out. She says other food pantries may have hours that are inconvenient with your schedule, it is for that reason that Food is Free Beaver Dam will be open 24/7.
Anyone wishing to donate to Food is Free Beaver Dam or seeking additional information about the project can email fifbd2022@gmail.com or visit the Food is Free Beaver Dam Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FoodIsFreeBD/.
