Food pantries grateful for donations

Though food and other donations often increase throughout the holiday season, many people still go to bed hungry.

According to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, "One in seven people in the United States does not know where their next meal is coming from."

The Food Bank Council said that they are serving more working poor families than ever before, and half of the people receiving assistance are children and senior citizens.

In a study conducted by Feeding America in 2012, Gogebic County residents faced a food insecurity rate of 15.4 percent and Iron County, Wis. faced a 14.5 percent rate.

"Food insecurity refers to the USDA's measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods," according to Feeding America.

Food insecurity is not necessarily a constant thing either, and often it is represented in families having to choose between important basic needs, such as housing, medical bills, utilities and adequate foods, said Feeding America.

Increased donations

Overall donations for the year seem to have increased in both Gogebic and Iron County food pantries.

"Donations have been absolutely awesome," said Judith Levra, of the St. Vincent de Paul Gogebic County food pantry in Bessemer.

Dorothy Walesewicz, of the Iron County food pantry in Montreal, Wis., said the food donations have been "absolutely unreal.

"Cash donations have been unbelievable," she also said.

Levra said that over the past year, they have had many groups and organizations hold food drives, including postal workers, Boy Scouts, Michigan State Police, many local churches, the Daily Globe, the correctional facility and Super One Foods.

"Super One was super," Levra said. "They organized a food drive and matched donation for donation."

Iron County has had many businesses and organizations donate, as well.

Walesewicz said they "must have received over 500 pounds of food from Burgers Bar & Grill" in Gile on Monday.

They also received a large donation from the Presbyterian Church in Hurley.

Both women are very thankful for the generosity they've seen.

"We are ever so grateful," Walesewicz said, and Levra mimicked that sentiment.

There have also been donations of other goods.

Walesewicz said she had mentioned they were short of mittens, and on Monday, a woman donated "10 to 15 pairs of handmade mittens."

All donations serve many people in both counties.

For the past year, from Oct. 1, 2013, through Sept. 30, 2014, Levra said the Gogebic County food pantry served 1,200 people in need.

Last month, the Iron County food pantry served 139 families, which is over 300 residents.

"We're covering a good territory," Walesewicz said.

This is true for both Gogebic and Iron counties. Together, the two counties total 1,860 square miles and almost 22,000 residents, according to 2013 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Making life better

Both women said they hope people come forward whenever they need something, no matter what their need is.

"I get to see the grateful faces of the hungry," Levra said, tearing up. She said she sees how happy it makes people when given food and other items.

"Some people are embarrassed," she said, but the "pantry does anything and everything we possibly can to help."

Walesewicz also agreed to this sentiment. In addition to the food pantry, the Iron County organization has a treasure room, with all kinds of donated goods, with no price-tags. She said that includes things like toys, clothes, books and more.

The motto is, "If it makes your life better, take it home, and donate what you can," said Walesewicz. "We're trying to make lives better with not just food."

The St. Vincent de Paul store's sale proceeds go to the district, to help those with other needs besides just food, said Levra, and because the food pantry has been blessed with donations, the store proceeds can go to those families with other needs. For this, Levra said, she is very thankful.

"Everybody has been overwhelming with their generosity," she said.

Levra referenced the tight-knit Yooper spirit as one reason donations have been constant for the Gogebic County pantry.

"Yoopers, I don't care how far away they go, they still think about us."

She mentioned that some have even set up organizations wherever they live now, to hold pasty sales and more, and the proceeds go to different U.P. organizations.

"Yoopers are Yoopers no matter where they go. We are family," she said.

Iron County has a similar group mindset.

"Nobody goes hungry in Iron County, or cold," Walesewicz said.

Final thought

Though they are doing well with donations right now, Levra said donations are needed throughout the year.

"We must remember that the day after Christmas people are still hungry. Let's not forget the hungry for the new year," she said.