J.J. Keller challenge grant aims to replenish Menasha food pantry's shortfall

A $25,000 donation from the J.J. Keller Foundation will allow St. Joseph Food Program to resume its regular distribution of milk and fresh produce for the next eight weeks.

The Menasha-based program announced earlier this week that its staff and board members decided temporary cutbacks to its milk and fresh produce purchases would be necessary to cope with a budget deficit of about $150,000.

The foundation, which learned about the cutbacks from a story that ran on Wednesday in The Post-Crescent, issued a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant Thursday that asks the community to match up to $25,000 in contributions to the food program by Dec. 23.

"Bob Keller, who's president of the foundation board, walked into my office and said, 'We need to do something about (the cutbacks),'" said Mary Harp-Jirschele, executive director of the Neenah-based foundation. "It is simply not acceptable for families to go without milk. That was his concern. I sent a note around to the board and said, here's an opportunity, and the vote was unanimous that we support it."

The cuts, which went into effect Monday, had reduced by at least half the amount of milk most families receive each week. Fresh produce mainstays were limited to potatoes, and donations of fruits and vegetables from grocery and convenience stores.

"It's just so nice that companies like J.J. Keller truly care about the basic needs of our community," said Karen Ziemke, the program's development director. "We are going to work as responsibly as we can with the money that's donated to our food program, as always."

The program serves about 1,100 families per week, and also provides Dale Food Pantry clients with milk and fresh produce.