New Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry to take shape this fall

Food pantry to host number of fundraisers to raise estimated $375,000

By Charles Van Horn

(From left) Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry Assistant Director Dani Carr, Founder Sister Adele Human, Volunteer Daniel Spies, Board Member Paul Songeroth and Executive director Tracy Cooper participate in the groundbreaking Tuesday, July 11, 2023, for the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry. (Charles Van Horn)

July 12, 2023 at 11:00 am CDT

A crowd of volunteers and board members gathered on Tuesday to break ground at the future new home of the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry.

The organization will be leaving its building, which it has had for 30 of its 33-year history, in the next few months. The founder of the food pantry, Sister Adele Human, also took part in the ceremony.

Executive Director Tracy Cooper said the food pantry will be hosting a number of fundraisers in an effort to raise the estimated $375,000 needed for the new building. H&H Builders will be starting in late September on the construction project, with completion projected to take three months.

The new 3,500 square foot building will be located on a vacant lot in the 700 block of Sixth Avenue.

“It gets very cramped in our current location” Cooper said, “We just needed a little bit more space.”