Positively Milwaukee: Veteran Food Pantry

By Carole Meekins

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  • A local food pantry will hold a spaghetti dinner to raise money for a local veterans pantry. Video by tmj4.com

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WEST MILWAUKEE- Some local volunteers were recently delivering compassion for our Veterans. They were filling a Veteran Food pantry at St. John's Lutheran Church. The volunteers say stocking up the food pantry at 55th and Greenfield nourishes their souls.

The pantry is in the basement at St, John's Lutheran Church. It is the first food pantry for Veterans in the Milwaukee area. Mike Czarnecki of Food for the Hungry, Inc.notes, "It's feeding those that are homeless and semi-homeless." The pantry opens every Tuesday at 9:00 am. For the men and women unable to get to the pantry, food can be delivered to their homes. For those who cannot get their food, can be delivered to their homes.

Organizers are getting ready for a big fundraising event. The public will have a chance to adopt a veteran. The Mayor of West Allis Dan Devine explains, "It's basically just buy them a ticket for a spaghetti dinner seven dollars. Anything above and beyond will be going to this pantry." Food for the Hungry Incorporated will host the fundraising dinner. Czarnecki says, "We want to reach out to veterans. We just invited 150 Veterans from this pantry to our fundraiser."

Patrick Moore is president of Vietnam Veterans of America. His group donates 100 dollars a month to the pantry. Moore notes, "Our motto is never again will one generation of veterans abandon another. That's what we go by."

Dennis Johnson, Executive Director of Veterans for Peace runs the pantry. He says, "We receive no government funding whatsoever. We exist entirely on donations."

So if you want to nourish your soul Adopt a Veteran. Dan Devine, Mayor of West Allis has faith in his neighbors. "One thing I've learned over my years living in West Allis is this community rallies when needed and when a tragedy strikes the community really comes together, when there's a need the community really shows up." Johnson sums it up this way. "If a soldier goes off to combat or war, a community needs to share that burden."

The Spaghetti Fundraiser is April 10th. from 3 till 7 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall. It's at 1800 South 92nd street in West Allis. You can sponsor a vet for only 7 dollars. If you would like more information call, 414-771-0715.