That extra canned food item in your pantry could go a long way in the community this fall. According to Feeding America, approximately 34 million people are living with food insecurity, which is when families lack consistent access to enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. For Heidi Penchoff of the Door of Life Food Pantry, the crunch for items has already started with the unofficial end of the tourist season still a couple of weeks away. She believes the impact of the pandemic and inflation are having a significant effect on residents, whether they are not working at all or trying to hold multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Canned food, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, and pancake mix are just some of the items the Door of Life Food Pantry needs right now. Penchoff says their doors are always open for people to donate items and take what they need. Door of Life is part of the larger Door County Food Pantry Coalition, made up of nine food pantries across the county from Washington Island to Maplewood.