2007 annual report
Double Portion Soup Kitchen and Pantry - 13,000 meals served in 2007
Double Portion continues to be a blessing to the guests who receive meals and pantry
items and to the volunteers who serve. God’s provision is a marvel to observe through
DP. Growth of community spirit on many levels is the most notable event of 2007. We
are blessed by a new church partner. St. Patrick’s Church has joined St. Thomas and
Calvary Bible Church in providing meals on a regular basis. DP as a forum for
ecumenically serving the needy is a joyful event. Our neighborhood of Doty Island has
become involved with DP; guests and volunteers have united in community spirit.
Indeed, members of our board of directors represent four different denominations. DP is
“community” as a “verb”.
The total number of meals served in 2007 tops 13,000 with a minimum of one
hundred guests every serving day! Our cost per meal is reduced to $1.22 without
sacrificing quality. The pantry distributes over a ton of free food and personal hygiene
items per month. Food cooked for meals is purchased from Sysco Foods. Additional
pantry stock to fill the gap between what is donated and what is needed is purchased from
Second Harvest of Wisconsin. In 2007 DP paid for dry wall replacement, electrical
upgrades in the kitchen and a new freezer.
Our Bible study meets Mondays after the meal and is led by Jim Dickson. Rick and
Kelly Thebo, and Karlo Swenson held gospel outreach events for guests. Bible study
materials were purchased for use by guests.
Blessings continue with donations to the ministry of helping the needy in our town.
The parishioners of Calvary Bible Church voted to have DP as a monthly line item in
their church’s budget for 2008. Halleluiah! Corporate donations, especially John J. and
Ethel Keller Foundation, play the largest part in keeping the food coming, and the guests
themselves donate and average of $175 per month. Weekly contributions of St. Thomas
parishioners are no less than amazing and are helping keep the pantry stocked. Significant
donations come from food drives and fund raisers: Boy Scouts of America, Troop 3;
Postal Workers of Menasha; Calvary Bible Church small groups; Cedar Bar and Grill;
Christian Men’s Fishing Club; Ada Hall Sr. Memorial; Gegan Elementary School;
Advance Cleaning Solutions; Great Harvest; Manderfields; Curves; Pick and Save and
many individuals, including Doty Island residents not formerly involved with DP.
Our mission is “To feed those who are hungry, physically and spiritually, and to
maintain the dignity of everyone who comes to Double Portion.” Meals are served
Monday, Wednesdays, except the third Wednesday of the month, and Thursdays. We are
blessed to see God changing the lives of guests and volunteers alike through this
ministry. John 21:17 …Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”