No Neighbor Hungry

Hunger has no place in Waukesha County.
Every person deserves the dignity and hope that comes from knowing tomorrow’s meal is secure. Our theme, No Neighbor Hungry, is both a rallying cry and promise. No Neighbor Hungry is a commitment to expand our space so that we can extend our reach, strengthen our impact, and nourish both bodies and spirits.

We are launching an $8 million campaign to secure and transform a permanent home for The Pantry and expanding an endowment for long-term sustainability. Growing demand has simply outpaced what the building can support. Longtime community leaders and philanthropists Dick and Karen Vaughn have made a $3.5 million charitable gift towards that goal, leaving $4.5 million yet to raise. By purchasing and renovating a permanent home, The Pantry will gain the flexibility to respond to community needs and serve our neighbors with greater impact. The endowment will be a lifeline in times of scarcity, allowing us to buy the staples that keep families nourished.

Growing Need

Hunger in Waukesha County is not abstract. It is a daily reality for thousands of families, seniors, and children forced to make impossible choices. A mother sends her kids to school without breakfast, knowing lunch may be their only meal. A retired grandparent eats toast for dinner so grandchildren can have something more filling. Families who once donated to The Pantry now rely on it for help. In just four years, demand has surged beyond anything in our history.

Our current facility can no longer meet this level of need. We have no more room to grow, every inch of space is in use. Our client service space is too small for families while they wait and crowded in the shopping areas. Our parking lot is unsafe as it overflows into the busy street and trucks intersect with clients walking to and from the building. 

The Solution

A new, permanent home at 1705 S. Prairie Avenue. This 20,000-square-foot facility will be purpose-renovated to serve the community, and the impact of this solution is immediate and lasting. We can increase the quantity of food distributed while ensuring greater efficiency and safety. Families will be welcomed into an uplifting space and served with greater dignity. Volunteers will have the resources they need to serve well. The Pantry will be
positioned to meet the rising need for decades to come.

  • 7,000 additional sq. ft. beyond our current site.
  • 2,900 additional sq. ft. of warehouse space, increasing capacity for more donations.
  • Larger cold storage, doubling cooler and freezer capacity with new equipment reducing maintenance costs.
  • Safer traffic flow, with dedicated truck docks, two large overhead doors for unloading vans, and expanded parking.
  • Flexible spaces for volunteers, programs, and future services.
  • Welcoming client areas, bringing intake and waiting inside, with an additional 1,700 sq. ft.

You can help make it happen!

The Pantry began nearly 50 years ago in a church basement. Today, it is the central hub of hunger relief in Waukesha County. Now is the time to take the next bold step forward.

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Imagining Our Space

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