The Children’s Pantry, which provides hot meals for non-profits and child and adult day care centers, opened 12 years ago. Their workers provide consistency for adults with mental and physical disabilities and children who know this may be the only hot meal they eat all day.However, the work they love may be in jeopardy. During the height of the pandemic, the business accumulated debt. They are still struggling due to high food and gas costs. The owner says without more money they won’t be open next year.“We were doing pretty good and then all that happened. We were totally closed down. We got behind on the rent and our taxes,” Brinke said.The Children’s Pantry delivers about 500 meals each day five days a week. Workers say without their services, people in the community may struggle to get access to nutritious food.“A lot of these places don’t have kitchens or they aren’t functional or it’s just too much for them,” Brinke said.Employees say they know their work is making a difference, and that’s why they want to continue.“You can tell by some of the places you go into. Some of the kids come up and hug you. I got one place they greet me with a first name basis every day,” said Damon Chamberlain, The Children’s Pantry.“Everybody deserves good food. I’ve worked at some of the finest restaurants. I’ve worked for myself. I’ve been a personal chef,” Brinke said. “Older people and people with disabilities look really forward to their meals. It’s the highlight of their day, and so we want to make them good food. We don’t want them to be all processed.”The Children’s Pantry has set up a Go Fund Me to raise $25,000 to pay their landlord and other bills.
The Children’s Pantry, which provides hot meals for non-profits and child and adult day care centers, opened 12 years ago. Their workers provide consistency for adults with mental and physical disabilities and children who know this may be the only hot meal they eat all day.
However, the work they love may be in jeopardy.
During the height of the pandemic, the business accumulated debt. They are still struggling due to high food and gas costs. The owner says without more money they won’t be open next year.
“We were doing pretty good and then all that happened. We were totally closed down. We got behind on the rent and our taxes,” Brinke said.
The Children’s Pantry delivers about 500 meals each day five days a week. Workers say without their services, people in the community may struggle to get access to nutritious food.
“A lot of these places don’t have kitchens or they aren’t functional or it’s just too much for them,” Brinke said.
Employees say they know their work is making a difference, and that’s why they want to continue.
“You can tell by some of the places you go into. Some of the kids come up and hug you. I got one place they greet me with a first name basis every day,” said Damon Chamberlain, The Children’s Pantry.
“Everybody deserves good food. I’ve worked at some of the finest restaurants. I’ve worked for myself. I’ve been a personal chef,” Brinke said. “Older people and people with disabilities look really forward to their meals. It’s the highlight of their day, and so we want to make them good food. We don’t want them to be all processed.”
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