I have volunteered with the Food Pantry of Waukesha County for the last 4 years, and it has been a wonderful experience. Staff are friendly, patient, hard-working, and caring. The many volunteers jump right in and do what needs to be done. It's a blessing to be able to work with these people to help provide food to the clients who need it.
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I started volunteering regularly for the Waukesha Food Pantry more than a year ago, and I'm so glad I did. I really look forward to my shift each week! The staff are friendly and competent and treat volunteers and clients with kindness, respect, and patience. Every effort is made to utilize all the food that is donated without presenting clients with subpar or expired food. (If it's no longer fit for human consumption, it's often given to a farmer for his livestock.) I was impressed at how the Food Pantry adapted quickly to be able to serve clients safely during the pandemic. Equally impressive is how they find new ways to serve clients, with online ordering, drive-through food pickup, in-person shopping, and home delivery, not to mention the partnerships with a local school and with Carroll University to reach more people in need. Being a part of this, as a volunteer, gives you the knowledge that you're making a positive difference in the community.
I have volunteered at the Food Pantry of Waukesha County for the last six months. The Food Pantry of Waukesha County has a well-earned reputation of being a highly ethical and effective organization, one that helps people through challenging times.
Executive Director Karen Tredwell is a respected leader in Southeast Wisconsin, who consistently and thoughtfully steers the organization. Clients are treated with respect. Volunteers’ time is well used and their work is appreciated.
Qualified clients may choose food once every two weeks. The Pantry offers multiple programs for people with specific food-related health conditions.
While serving clients, we hear of people financially devastated by medical conditions, jobs lost and other situations. We witness young people managing three-generation families on the most meager incomes. Over 40% of clients are children. Many others are seniors. The Pantry is their safety net. Many clients come less often than they are allowed, telling us to save the food for those who may be in greater need than theirs. Some volunteers are past clients, people who are grateful the Pantry was available when they struggled to feed their families. Now they are giving back.
Once a week I have the honor of working with 20+ other volunteers for two hours as we serve 70-95 people in one of seven shifts a week. I am one of approximately 150 volunteers who collect food, sort it, shelf it and distribute it. Last year volunteers worked the equivalent of 14 full time employees.
The Food Pantry of Waukesha County is one of the most efficient not-for-profit organizations I have seen. On a daily basis, it lives its mission.
Review from Guidestar