Loaves and Fishes food pantry turns 10

GENOA CITY — Tom Fesser is the gentle giant, Kevin Polheber the one in the suit and tie. Together they stand, united by their passion for helping the hungry. About 10 years ago, they volunteered at the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Now, they’re running it — Fesser, who replaced Pat Hardy as pantry manager a few years ago, and Polheber, the president of the pantry board of directors.And on Oct. 8, in the basement of First United Methodist Church, sitting among the stocked shelves of what has served as the Loaves and Fishes headquarters since its inception, the two showed no signs of stopping.“I thrive on being here,” Fesser said. “People are so grateful. It brings tears to my eyes sometimes.”With Loaves and Fishes celebrating its 10th anniversary open house Sunday, Oct. 20, it seemed appropriate to ask Fesser and Polheber how the pantry got started, what’s the secret to its success and where it’s going.They both said they hoped the pantry would stay in the community a long time to fulfill a need and help the hungry.“But if this were to shut down because of there no longer being a need for it, I’ll be happy,” Polheber said.“Both me and Kevin would be happy about that,” Fesser said. OriginThey credited former United Methodist pastor Ken Lyerly and Arlene Dean as the ones who started Loaves and Fishes, a name which Polheber suspects was inspired by the Bible, “when Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.”In a March 11, 2004, Regional News article, Lyerly said the pantry began as a way to better connect to the community. Dean, by several accounts, felt extremely passionate about feeding the hungry.“Arlene actually bought food out of her own pocket and gave it to families who needed it,” Fesser said.Polheber said Genoa City residents used to benefit from a pantry in Twin Lakes until regulations changed. Now, pantries that receive government aid can no longer provide food to people who live out of county. There is one way around that, simply by not receiving government aid.“One hundred percent of our funding is from donations,” Polheber said. The focus of Loaves and Fishes is Genoa City, he said, but they have given food to others on a case-by-case basis.“We take care of Genoa City, and I don’t think Jesus Christ cares what your zip code is, we take care of you if you’re hungry and you need food,” Polheber said.Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, Loaves and Fishes provides each family with a grocery bag of items. Fesser said he tries to stock each bag with at least soup, Hamburger Helper, bologna, macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, toilet paper, pasta and spaghetti sauce.“We are an emergency food pantry,” Fesser said.Because it’s a weekly pantry, he said they try to give families as much food for one week as they can.This can be tough, though. Polheber said on average, Fesser has between $150 and $200 a week to purchase food for the pantry.Or whatever donated funds are available, Polheber said.“It’s not a lot,” Fesser said.However, both men said that the community has been kind and supportive. They both told tales of past fundraisers and food drives. Local civic groups and businesses have frequently supported Loaves and Fishes. “I really want to express our gratitude to the community,” Polheber said. “We couldn’t do any of this stuff if it wasn’t for their support.”And apparently, the community does not stop at the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. They said businesses in Richmond, Ill., and even further south often provide Loaves and Fishes with food. Fesser said Riverside Bake Shop, McHenry, Ill., regularly donates food to them.He said this year, to date, they have given out 920 bags of food. Polheber said and it’s not even the busy season yet. That’s during the holidays. It’s a lot of work for Fesser and Polheber, so why do it?They both said for the Lord.“He said, ‘What you do for the least of my people, you do for me,’” Polheber said.Fesser looked at his partner and smiled.“It just makes me feel good when I say things like that, that it’s for the Lord,” he said.