LOW INCOME MINISTRY OF DODGE COUNTY

Low Income Ministry started in 1972 by church ladies who asked for gifts of clothing to help meet some community family's needs. In 1983 the food pantry was added. A location was set up in one of the church basements for families to come to for help. As the years went by the churches asked to have the ministry move to other locations. Empty store fronts and warehouses were leased to handle the greater volume of clothing. Around 1993 a permanent building was purchased in downtown Fremont. It had been a horse livery stable with a hayloft and later a car dealership. Remodeling took place and now, with further building additions, this building houses an office area, a clothing center, a clothing receiving area, a large sized food pantry, a garage for a truck, plus storage for seasonal clothing and large quantities of foods. Today Low Income Ministry provides food helping low income families who may come once a month. It also assists families with rent and utilities, has a summer box fan program, provides Dodge County schools with school supplies, opens a Christmas Toy Shoppe in December, has a drawing for new bikes, helmets, and locks, is the disaster resource for the Fremont community and provides case management services. Low Income Ministry's goal is to assist those families below the poverty line with food and/or rent or utilities. Rent and utility assistance is given to help keep the utilities on and also to help families stay in their homes with their children staying in the same school and eliminating the problem of a new deposit when moving.