Thankful to be serving the community from their new, indoor space this holiday season
’Tis the season of giving, and the Whiting Food Pantry is excited to continue serving members of the community in need from their new location, Sacred Heart Church, located at 1717 Laporte Ave. in Whiting. The food pantry is operated by the City of Whiting and led by Food Pantry Operator, Keith Burke.
“We’d like to thank Sacred Heart Church for their generosity, and for leasing the space to us and fixing it up so nicely,” said Burke. “It has been so enjoyable working with the community and we look forward to giving back this holiday season. We are expecting around 110 families for our special Thanksgiving distribution."
The Whiting Food Pantry previously set up distribution outside of Whiting City Hall. Now that the cooler weather has approached, the new indoor location at Sacred Heart Church is very beneficial for the operation. The space is located on the main level, creating a handicap accessible environment for patrons. The entrance can be found between the convent and the school, near the “Whiting Food Pantry” sign.
“We are so grateful for our partners, Strack & Van Til, Calumet Bakery, and all of the people inside and outside of the community that make monetary donations to help support the Whiting Food Pantry and those in need,” expressed Burke. “We’d like to give an additional thanks to Strack and Van Til’s customers who have generously purchased and donated pre-packed grocery bags to the Whiting Food Pantry for the upcoming Thanksgiving distribution.” He continued, "We’ve accumulated over to $2,500 worth of food for families in need. Thank you to Strack & Van Til for facilitating that.”
UPCOMING THANKSGIVING DISTRIBUTION:
Friday, November 20th • 8:30am - 2pm
Social media outreach has been a helpful tool in growing the Whiting Food Pantry’s volunteer base, however, they are always looking for more volunteers. The pantry is open on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 8:30 am - 2 pm to Whiting and Robertsdale residents within the 46394 zip code only. COVID-19 safety measures being taken include six foot spacing, mandatory masks, and hand sanitization upon entering the distribution line.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Keith Burke and his team.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Keith Burke
City of Whiting Community Development Director
Direct 219.659.7704 ext. 249
