The Platte Valley Food Pantry has a long history of fulfilling the needs of those experiencing tough financial times.
Without the generosity of the Platte Valley community, the food pantry would not exist, volunteer Janice Kerpan said.
Whether it is food staples or money, the food pantry makes good use of the donations. Over the past year, the food pantry has assisted 235 families in the Platte Valley and surrounding areas.
People come from as far away as Hanna and Medicine Bow, Kerpan said.
Kerpan moved to the Platte Valley in 1980 and her church wanted to help a families in need. “We couldn’t find families who had needs at the time, we were lucky to find one,” Kerpan said. “And now the need is definitely there right now,” she added.
Working families are struggling to make ends meet.
“What I want to express is the generosity of this community,” Kerpan said. “It has been enormous.”
One example Kerpan gives is that Valle Evans donates the space where the food pantry is located. Many food pantries around the country are struggling to pay their own rent, Kerpan said.
Kerpan said one of the sayings she likes to use is “We don’t always have a lot, but we always have enough.”
On Dec. 17, the food pantry was out of a couple of things. “I just made a couple of calls and we got it. It just seems to work like that,” Kerpan said.
“I think it’s a God thing. We are not in control.”
Kerpan said she believes the needs are higher this year. “It averages out to 18 families a month, but this month alone, we have served 34 families.”
The month was barely at the mid-mark and Christmas and New Year’s Eve is just around the corner.
“We have a lot of people who are dropping off donations,” Kerpan said. Picking up the donations has kept her busy.
To donate items, people can call Kerpan at 307-326-8409. Cash donations can be made to Saratoga Church Fund in care of Pastor Susan Dyer, Treasurer, PO Box 1113, Saratoga, WY 82331. Be sure to write in the memo area “Food Pantry”. Checks used to be made out to the Platte Valley Ministerial Association, but now must be made out to the Saratoga Church Fund because of banking regulations.
Depending on the time of year, the food pantry has eight to 12 volunteers, Kerpan said.
Kerpan is filling the role that Peg McAlister used to have. McAlister still volunteers once a month.
“We are all volunteers,” Kerpan said. “No one person is in charge.”
Volunteers come in when the food pantry receives donations to help check the expiration dates and stock the pantry, especially during this time of year when donations are high because of school and organization collections.
Volunteers also prepare boxes for families so when a family comes in on distribution day or calls with a need, the boxes are ready. People also donate paper products. One family at a time comes into the food pantry.
“It just all falls into place,” Kerpan said.
Kerpan said the volunteers at the food pantry appreciate all the donations they have received this past year including businesses, ranches, the game meat program, meat processors, hunters, schools, churches, individuals, volunteers and all of the groups that have done special food drives.
Kerpan said the need exists all year round. Cash donations are used to purchase sale items at Valley Foods when needs are not met through food donations.
For a list of needs, contact Kerpan at 326-8409.
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