SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital has donated $5,000 to the Living Hope Food Pantry, Fox Lake, to help replace a cargo van. In 2024, the food pantry served 4,156 families with an average of about 100 families per week with numbers growing exponentially.

The Living Hope Food Pantry, located at 103 Spring Street in Fox Lake, serves low-income families and families with temporary financial need. Its goal is to provide food and necessities to individuals and families in need, fostering a sense of hope, dignity, and community.

Operated by volunteers and supported by local donations, the pantry provides essential food items to individuals and families in need.

“Our food pantry serves as a vital resource for those facing financial hardships, ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food,” according to Jill Benson, Living Hope Food Pantry Board of Directors member and volunteer. “The Living Hope Food Pantry operates with a spirit of compassion, offering not only physical nourishment but also emotional support and encouragement to help those they serve through difficult times.”

The Living Hope Food Pantry offers a variety of services, including the distribution of non-perishable food items, fresh produce, and household essentials to those in need. The pantry operates on a regular schedule to ensure consistent access to food for individuals and families.

In addition to food assistance, the pantry provides information on local resources and referrals to other social services that can help with housing, utilities, and other basic needs.

The donation was presented to Charlie Mulder, Steve Katsma, and Stuart Mulder, Living Hope Food Pantry, by DeAnn Thurmer, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital president, and Nicole Gill, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital vice president/clinical administrator.

“It is so critical for a local food pantry, like the Living Hope Food Pantry, to be there to help families who have fallen on hard times, so they don’t have to worry about going hungry,” according to Gill. “Because of donations and volunteers, food pantry can continue to provide a sense of security for those who need it most. We’re happy to bolster the important work of the Living Hope Food Pantry.”

In 2024, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.

DeAnn Thurmer (left), SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital president, and Nicole Gill (center), hospital VP, clinical administrator, present a $5,000 donation to Living Hope Food Pantry representatives Charlie Mulder, Steve Katsma, and Stuart Mulder.