OREGON, Wis. –Ellie Gibson’s food pantry located in the front porch area of her Oregon home has everything from non-perishable foods to household essentials. While many community members might know about the pantry itself, what many don’t know is that it started as an act of love.
“We always wanted to help people we just weren’t quite sure how,” Gibson said. “Especially right now during this pandemic, money flow for some people is non-existent. Food is hard for people and it’s very hard for people to ask for help, honestly. I’ve been there myself.”
Gibson and her fiancé, Dillon, began setting free food on the curb outside of their Oregon home. Dillon was raised by a single mom and saw the insecurities of single parents struggling. Gibson faced her own food insecurities after her first husband died 10 years ago.
“My kids lost their father to a tragic tree cutting accident and I was a single parent,” Gibson said. “That’s when things started to unravel.”
Gibson found it almost impossible to make it to food pantries at the end of her workday to provide food for her kids.
“Normal food pantries are open 9-11 and 4-6,” she said. “Well I worked 8-5 and to get off work at 5 and go to a food pantry and come home and take care of my kids, there’s not enough time in that extra hour to provide food.”
Dillon helped Gibson get back on her feet after her husband’s death. Together, they found the food boxes they placed outside their home emptied almost every night so eventually they set up their own free food pantry.
But shortly after they started this journey together last July, Dillon took his own life in November.
“He was a loving person,” Gibson said. “Never saw a mean or angry bone in his body. For us to be able to continue on with what Dillon wanted here and with my kids helping, it just helps us feel good inside.”
Gibson was left to carry on what they created together. Giving up wasn’t an option.
“It helps me cope because through all the tragedies in my life, I tend to get nervous Nellie. This keeps me occupied. I’ll come out here and organize and situate and check expiration dates. It takes away from me just sitting and having nervous energy to helping others.”
Open early morning and late nights (6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.) to provide for working parents who can’t make it in time for normal food pantry hours, she’s now helped hundreds of families. It’s a small gesture of love that’s showing Gibson and others that no one takes this journey through life alone.
“If someone is having a bad day or if they’re having a food insecurity, we can help fill that stress so maybe their day isn’t so bad.”
Gibson’s pantry is located at 211 Janesville Street in Oregon, Wisconsin.
If you would like to donate to Gibson’s pantry, you can do so through Venmo (@Ellie-Gibson-7) or Cash App ($Ellwood2021).
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