About 10 years ago, Common Grace, formerly Lakeview Moravian Church, was facing declining attendance. Rather than retreat, the congregation turned its attention to the neighborhood. The Eastmorland Community Center was founded on a vision of bringing people together for life-giving work close to home.
In Madison, Wisconsin, two public schools, Schenk Elementary and Whitehorse Middle School, serve a community where 59.2% of families face economic challenges and qualify for the subsidized meal program.
To help, the Eastmorland Community Center provides students with take-home weekend food bags, healthy snacks, and a weekly afternoon snack break. The center also hosts a mobile food pantry at Whitehorse Middle School, with all food prepped, delivered, and distributed by volunteers.
Assembling the weekend bags took careful thought. As Staci Marrese-Wheeler, Pastor of Common Grace Church and Community Center Developer, explained, the team had to consider whether students had access to microwaves, which foods were culturally appropriate, and which meals young children could prepare easily. The center recognized that students come from a wide range of financial and cultural backgrounds.
The program grew out of a collaboration among the Eastmorland Community Center, Common Grace, Second Harvest, Schenk and Whitehorse schools, and Lake Edge Lutheran Church. Together, they launched weekly take-home food bags, in-class snacks, and a monthly food pantry. In 2024, a Hunger & Thirst Grant from MMFA allowed Eastmorland to host more pantries and secure sustainable funding. Meanwhile, building development plans for the community center are moving toward a permanent food pantry, which will offer longer-lasting support to school families.
Partnerships with local farmers have also been a success. The monthly mobile pantry now offers fresh, locally grown vegetables that reflect the cultural backgrounds of the families served. To reduce waste, any leftover produce goes to a local food pantry for distribution.
Your Impact
Thanks to your generosity and the work of ministries like the Eastmorland Community Center, families facing financial and nutritional challenges receive the help and care they deserve.
To support the future missions of our churches and ministries, consider donating to one of our Field of Interest Funds.
To learn more about the capital campaign for a new community center, visit the Eastmorland Community Center building updates page.
