Watertown Food Pantry

HISTORY. The Food Pantry concept was initiated by Reverend Brent Christianson, Immanuel Lutheran Church, who brought the idea to the Social Concerns Committee. The Pantry began serving area residents in October 1982 from a loft room in the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Pantry was open Mondays from 10 – 12 Noon. The church secretary or one of the pastors dealt with any emergency at other times. In 1983, the Watertown Organization of Unemployed Workers began staffing the Pantry as part of their community service commitment, so the Pantry was then open 2 hours, 5 days a week. The OUW was disbanded early in 1984, when many volunteers resumed employment. Staffing the pantry on a daily basis is now done by regular volunteers. In summer, 1984, Jefferson County began to provide us with surplus commodities (powdered milk, cornmeal and honey) in addition to the butter and cheese we always had. Therefore, Jefferson County referred additional people to the Pantry. Records show that in 1982 2 families were assisted, each twice, for a total of 4 withdrawals. During 1983 the Pantry served 216 families. That December the Pantry distributed 22 Christmas baskets. By 1984, use of the Pantry had increased to a total of 571 family withdrawals and use of the Pantry has increased each year. In 1989 the Watertown Food Pantry Board of Directors was created. The pantry was incorporated with the State of Wisconsin as a tax-exempt entity. The Pantry also created its own set of By Laws, which were filed with the State, and the Pantry Board was established as a non-stock board. This is renewed annually with the State. The Pantry was also established as a non-profit, private organization with the I.R.S., and received 5.01 (C)(3) tax exempt status.