Southern Wood Co. Emergency Pantry sees more need - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

Beverly Sitmac is a volunteer at the Southern Wood County Emergency Pantry in Wisconsin Rapids.

She says volunteering here means a lot.

"I was a child that was hungry when I was growing up, and now, we are doing just fine. So, I like to pay back what people might have helped us when I was younger," said Stimac.

The pantry is meant to help people who are in emergency situations. That means people can go there six times in a year.

Volunteers provide families with enough food to get them through a week.

Stimac says she's seen mothers come in who didn't have enough food to feed their children for the week.

"That's a scary thought," she added.

Pantry worker Karlene Dillingham says they depend on donations.

"We have so much need and demand in this community that we go through so much food on a daily basis. The donations help supplement the pantry, and they make the pantry, actually," said Dillingham.

But workers say they're seeing fewer donations than in the past.

"I can remember, maybe in years past that they were a lot larger, took longer to sort," said Ann See, Pantry Chair.

"It gets really scary when that storeroom gets empty, so then we know we have to buy a lot of food," said Stimac.

But workers say they're hopeful more donations will come in.

"I think people for the most part in this community are very generous, and if they see someone is in need, they're willing to help," said Stimac.

Those people help make the holidays a little brighter for families in need.

Donations can be dropped off at First Congregational Church in Wisconsin Rapids.