For over 18 years, the Personal Essentials Pantry (PEPA) has served as a beacon of hope for many families facing financial hardship, providing essential personal hygiene and cleaning products to those in need. Through an MMFA grant of $2,000 provided from the Healing & Health fund, this ministry of Common Grace served 1,558 households this year, distributing over 25,000 products within their community of Madison, WI. These essentials range from household cleaning supplies, like laundry detergent, to personal care items, such as shampoo, feminine hygiene products, and toothpaste.
These resources help to alleviate the financial strain that often forces families to choose between basic necessities like food, rent, and personal care. “For many of our clients, these items are not just luxuries—they are essentials that can determine whether children attend school or parents secure employment,” explains Lois Roth, PEPA’s dedicated coordinator, who has volunteered hundreds of hours to the pantry. “Providing these items can be one step in breaking a cycle of poverty.”
The saying “it takes a village” certainly applies to this amazing ministry. With their volunteers dedicating just shy of 1000 hours, the pantry was able to be open 99 days, for a total of 286.5 hours this year. The Personal Essentials Pantry is supported by many congregations in their community, who help to provide funding, product donations, and housing for the pantry. Roth shares that, “This common work of churches in the community is a gift that brings a sense of unity and relationship with our neighbors. It is a blessing.”
PEPA also works in collaboration with many other organizations within their community, who all chip in however they can.
- A scout from Eagle Scout Troop 329 held a collection for the pantry for his service project.
- The Village Diaper bank donates diapers at no cost.
- Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ houses the pantry.
Together, these churches, organizations, and volunteers join forces to create a stronger, sustainable program to provide a vital service to low-income households in their community.
We invite our readers to learn more about the Personal Essentials Pantry (PEPA) here. If your organization or church feels inspired by this ministry and wants to seek funding for a project of their own, you can learn more about our Field of Interest grant funds here.
