Photo courtesy of Michael Martin Rosemary Martin presented donations of food items and a $320 check to Phil Woitaszewski, coordinator of the Little Pantry food shelf in Tracy. The pantry, located outside Tracy United Methodist Church, offers non-perishable food and personal care items any time of day.

TRACY — Tracy area community members have been helping provide free food for people in need for the past couple of years, Phil Woitaszewski said. The Little Pantry outside Tracy United Methodist Church is a place where non-perishable food and personal care items can be picked up any time of day.

“It’s a way to show that we care about people, and it’s good outreach in the community,” said Woitaszewski, who coordinates the Little Pantry.

Recently, the Little Pantry got the attention of a group of Lyon County residents, too. Members of the Lyon County DFL collected donations for the pantry, as part of a service project.

“We’re called every year to do a day of care and service,” said Tracy resident Rosemary Martin. This weekend, Martin presented Woitaszewski with a $320 check and bags of food and personal care items on behalf of the Lyon County DFL

“That’s a big help. It’s very much needed,” he said of the donation.

Woitaszewski said the amount of activity at the Little Pantry changes, but there’s definitely been a need for the free food provided there.

“The last few weeks, it’s been getting hit pretty hard. It’s difficult to keep it filled,” he said.

The DFL service day was a statewide initiative of the party, said Lyon County DFL chairperson Anita Gaul. Area DFL members had been looking for a project, but the February weather limited their options for outdoor work. Martin organized the food drive for the Little Pantry, Gaul said.

Woitaszewski said the Little Pantry was started in 2019, by Tracy United Methodist’s pastor at the time. The pantry, located outside the church, relies on donations to operate. A couple of times a week, Woitaszewski restocks the pantry with items like canned goods, boxed pasta, cereal and peanut butter.

The Little Pantry was “a really nice fit” for a local service project, Martin said. The Pantry is there to help Tracy area community members, even when other resources might not be open.

“If you have an immediate need, it’s open 24 hours a day,” she said.

Besides raising monetary donations, Martin said the Lyon County DFL donors focused on collecting personal care items like toothbrushes, and foods in packages that didn’t need tools to be opened.

Helping the Little Pantry was a way to make a difference. But Martin said being able to reach out in the community also takes on a special meaning during a time when there’s a lot of negativity in politics.

“This year more than ever, we need to get a positive message out there,” she said.

Woitaszewski said people who are interested in contributing to the Little Pantry can contact Tracy United Methodist Church.