When times get rough for people, both financially and emotionally, they often turn to the community for help. Whether it’s help from a neighbor, church or a food pantry, the community helps them stay on their feet. The city of Whitewater is no stranger to helping those in need.
Whitewater has two main spaces where people in need can receive aid: The Whitewater Community Food Pantry and The Community Space. Starting up over 25 years ago, The Community Space began with a school janitor bringing coats to children who needed them.
“He would see kids without coats and he couldn’t stand it so he would bring them coats, and the more he brought, the more kids he found without,” said Kate Robers, Assistant Manager at the Community Space.
As the need for assistance grew, so did the organization. From starting in the school gym to the upstairs of the local church, and now residing in their own space, they have always aimed to help those in need regardless of circumstances.
The Community Space serves residents mainly from both Jefferson and Walworth Counties, though there is no requirement that needs to be met to use their resources. They are open to anyone who needs them regardless of someone’s location or income.
“We don’t care. We just want them to be clothed and we want them to be fed,” Robers said.
The space receives donations from the community along with weekly donations from Feeding America, Walmart, Whole Foods, Aldi and Kwik Trip to keep their shelves stocked. They also provide clothing, household materials, furniture, entertainment items and food.
Another resource for Whitewater residents is the Whitewater Community Food Pantry. Operated by Patricia Chaput, the pantry has been serving its residents since the end of World War II. Like The Community Space, the pantry relies on donations from the community to feed their families. However, the pantry is limited to Whitewater residents within the school district.
“It’s all donations, and we get money too,” Chaput said. “With the money, we buy what we need. It’s a lot nicer when we have all these donations so they have choices.”
The recent government shutdown left thousands of families across the country without the resources they needed to buy simple necessities. Both spaces saw an increase in the number of people using the resources during the government shutdown. Luckily, these spaces and the community took large steps to help those in need.
“With the thing with SNAP, I cannot even tell you how generous [this community] has been,” Robers said. “I’ve always said that it takes a village, and this is the most wonderful village.”
Even though SNAP benefits have been reopened, the organizations prepare to continue to do everything in their power to help those who are less fortunate and encourage the community to do the same.
“Just keep donating,” Chaput said. “That’s what really gets us through.”
