KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna High School’s Civic Engagement class was honored last month for its work in collecting food and hygiene products for Kaukauna Public Library’s Little Free Pantry.
At the Dec. 20, 2022 Common Council meeting, Mayor Tony Penterman presented KHS Civic Engagement students McKenna Young and Audrey Arnoldussen a Certificate of Appreciation for coordinating donation drive.
The class collected three truckloads of food and hygiene products during its annual drive.
Students dropped off flyers, collected donations throughout the city, helped sort items, checked expiration dates, and transported items to the library.
Little Free Pantry FAQ from the Kaukauna Public Library:
Who is the pantry for?
Anyone struggling to put food on their table may take from the pantry. No tickets, passes, or coupons necessary. Please choose kind and only take stock if you are truly in need of food.
When is the pantry open?
The pantry is open during library operating hours. School year hours: M-TH 9a-8p, F 9a-5p & S 9a-1p. Summer hours: M-TH 9a-8p and F 9a-5p.
Where is the pantry?
The pantry has moved back to its original location in our adult nonfiction area.
What is in the pantry?
Most of the time only non-perishable staples. It is completely donation based, so supply is always uncertain.
What is with the big restocks with bread, fruits, and vegetables we see online sometimes?
Oshkosh Area Community Pantry has been kind enough to give us their surplus and community member Jason Lipsky has been kind enough to drive it up to us. We don’t know when we will get surplus or what time it will arrive, so there is no set schedule. We post on our Facebook page when the restocks occur.
What is the best way to be notified about the pop-up pantries?
Follow us on Facebook! Because we only get a short notice when food is coming, it is the only way we can get the word out quickly. As a reminder, we cannot preschedule these as it is supply based.
Can I donate to the pantry?
Yes! We accept donations of non-perishable, non-expired foods, hygiene items, and baby feeding/diapering supplies. We do not accept or condone the donation of expired food; please be aware that we do throw it out. Please place your donations in the donation bin by the lobby doors and not directly on the shelf. If you would like to make a monetary donation to the pantry by cash or check (written to Friends of the Kaukauna Public Library) you can! Please write Little Free Pantry in the check memo and leave it with the front desk. Library staff will purchase what is most in need with the funds. Monetary donations are also tax deductible.
What if I need more help than this?
The nearest food pantry is Loaves and Fishes located at 2011 E. Main Street in Little Chute and is open Tuesdays from 8:30a-10:30a. For more information please email loavesandfisheskaukauna@gmail.com or call 920-464-0491. You can also call 211 for further assistance, more information here: https://www.unitedwayfoxcities.org/our-work/united-way-2-1-1/
