Volunteer Cheryl Brandt looks over the shelves of Our Father’s Pantry, where about 100 families meet their food needs every week. Along with non-perishables and other essentials like diapers and toilet paper, the pantry also stocks meat and frozen pizzas in its freezers.

Text and Photos
By Lilli Dwyer
InkFree News

WARSAW — The month of March marked the one-year anniversary of resale store Our Father’s Closet and Our Father’s Pantry. In this volunteer-run operation, the Closet resells gently used clothing donations and uses the profits to fund the food pantry right next door.

The operation was started in the wake of Our Father’s House founder Roz Morgan closing her operation for health reasons. The nonprofit organization had been serving the community through its own thrift store and food bank since 1997.

Barb Hardin, who volunteered with Our Father’s House before the closing, said, “I knew what Roz did. I knew the big void it would leave if it wasn’t filled. I also felt very strongly that I did not want her work to go away. We don’t do everything she did, but we will get there.”

The new closet and pantry opened last year as a conference of St. Vincent de Paul, a worldwide Catholic organization.

An average of 100 families use Our Father’s Pantry to meet their food needs every week. Along with nonperishables and other essentials like diapers and toilet paper, the pantry also has a freezer section. It stocks perishable foods, including meat and frozen pizzas.

The volunteers also believe the operation can give people something vital, beyond meeting their clothing and food needs.

“There’s that thing of keeping dignity for the people, that they can afford to buy their own clothes. I think there’s a dignity in that, to be able to do that,” said Hardin.

Susan Armacost, a volunteer who usually works the sales floor, noted a social aspect to what they offer.

“People will come in just to browse, but I think they also come in sometimes for companionship, because we’ll hear their stories and we’ll listen to their stories and just spend time with them. … Even as they’re cashing out, they’ll tell us, ‘oh, this for my grandchild’ and we’ll hear a little bit about their grandchild and their relationship with that child. Or, they’ll come in looking for something special because they’ve got a brand new job interview, they’re very excited. We’re coming back around to prom season, so a lot of girls will come in with their moms looking for a dress and we’ll hear those stories,” she said.

Brandt shows off one of the formal dresses donated to Our Father’s Closet.

“Sometimes we’ll ask if there’s anything they need prayers for. We put that on a book up in front, and then when we have our meetings, we pray over those people and what their needs are,” Hardin added.

While many volunteers are churchgoers, volunteer Cheryl Brandt emphasized that Our Father’s Closet and Our Father’s Pantry are open to anyone who wants to help out.

In the year since opening, the volunteers have learned a thing or two about running the operation.

“We’re getting better at knowing what’s well received and what’s not well received,” said Brandt. Women’s clothing continues to be the store’s best seller.

As of now, the resale store only stocks wearable items: belts, purses, clothes and shoes for men, women and children. They also recently expanded to jewelry.

Hardin mentioned they can’t currently take larger household goods, like furniture. Furniture donations may be redirected to Habitat For Humanity or Mary Ann’s Place, the Beaman’s Home resale store.

In the future, Hardin said, they’d like to continue expanding the services they offer. One of the services Hardin would like to see is home visits, a more one-on-one method of assistance. Their purpose is, “to visit with people, see where they are, what we can do to help them and how they can help themselves through programs,” she explained.

Over the past year, the volunteers have something personally rewarding about their work with the store and pantry. Brandt said, “I think it’s the friendships, and getting to know people, because we’re all working toward the same mission.”

Our Father’s Closet is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The store currently takes only cash and checks.

Our Father’s Pantry is open 2-5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday.

They are located at 2212 and 2214 E. Winona Avenue, Warsaw.

Anyone interested in volunteering can inquire by visiting during store hours or online at ourfatherscloset.org.