The Prayer Pantry

When faced with sadness, anger, frustration, confusion, etc, do you shy away from those emotions or do you use them as fuel? For Marlee, these emotions were the kindling that initiated the Prayer Pantry. Starting at the end of January 2026, Marlee says the pantry was born from a place of wanting to channel that emotional load; “with everything going on in the world and our country, I was feeling really discouraged and disillusioned. Being a mom, I couldn’t just let those feelings consume me; I wanted to show my kids how to take a difficult situation or feeling and turn it into something good.” Having been inspired by another local pantry, the Caring Cottage, and stumbling across Mark 12:30-31 (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”), Marlee donated and then got to work setting up the Prayer Pantry.

The set up started out quite small, beginning as a humble storage bin, but has grown both in size and influence. Marlee recalls “being so grateful to see that someone had been able to use the pantry. I checked to see what had been needed and it was a roll of toilet paper… It hit me hard that someone living so close to me would need something that seems like such a guaranteed item.” Now an outdoor cabinet for food & clothing, with an occasional cooler for perishables, toilet paper is still one of the top items to go for the Prayer Pantry. With just over 12% of those in the city of Fond du Lac living under the poverty line (see US Census Bureau), and a reminder that just over ⅓ are classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), items like oral care products, bodily hygiene, and staple foods are necessary for accessibility. Marlee additionally realizes that those using the pantry “can look like anyone”. The Prayer Pantry “[has] served everyone from young families to seniors. We’ve had people come back & continue to reach out; as much as I wish it were easy for everyone to have their basic needs met, challenges like food/essentials insecurity & homelessness don’t just “go away” in a week.”

With the often long-term need, donations are more important than ever to facilitate the pantry. For Marlee, donations have started to become more frequent, but there are still days or weeks where the pantry has fewer items to serve. “Sometimes the pantry is filled entirely by the community’s generosity; other times my family steps in to bridge the gap. What’s been amazing is seeing God work in the hearts of others to think differently about food or items in their own homes, how they consume, etc. As Luke 3:11 says, …’Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’ Whether our donors recognize it or not, they’re living that verse out. Whatever your beliefs, you can’t go wrong by showing others you love them.”

The Prayer Pantry is located at 1268 Martin Ave with the goal of acting as a supply/food pantry while taking prayer requests and providing connection to local or other resources as able. You can find updates, specific donation requests, and may contact Marlee through “The Prayer Pantry” on Facebook.

Catch the next chapter of Pantry Pieces next week, showcasing local pantries serving the Fond du Lac community.

Community Pantry List:

“Take It or Leave It – Community Pantry : 195 E Cotton St.
The Prayer Pantry: 1268 Martin Ave.
Free Little Pantry: 474 Garfield St
Hope On The Block: 19 W 1st St (located behind the Advocap building)
Covenant Methodist Church Little Free Pantry: 20 N Marr St (west side of parking lot).
Little Free Pantry: 204 S National Ave
The Caring Cottage: 213 E 1st St
American Legion Community Cabinet 500 Fond du Lac Ave (located in the foyer) Additional pantry available for veterans (ask for Jodie!) Open 7:30am-10pm
Broken Bread Food Pantry FDL: 51 W. Division St. Hours – Fridays 1pm-5pm

*All of these pantries are available to the public. Donations of shelf-stable food and hygiene products are always appreciated!”

Other helpful resources:

https://solutionsfdl.org