Bakery Creates Free Little Food Pantry For City Of Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI — A Waukesha County bakery shop is giving back to the community in the sweetest way: It created a free food pantry thanks to its generous staff and customers.

The staff at Sally's Sweet Shoppe in Genesee Depot and Delafield refuses to accept tips and puts "keep the change" money into a collection jar instead. This year, it raised $1,500. Shop owner Tracey Catarozoli said staff members donate the tip jar money to local organizations annually.

Catarozoli's bakers told her in February 2020 that they wanted to do something close to the heart. At least two of the employees said they had been on food assistance during childhood or adulthood, she said. What she didn't expect was their reaction after she suggested they do something to help with food assistance.

"I saw tears in their eyes and decided this is what we were doing," Catarozoli said. "The conversation was over."

The bakery decided to make a free pantry to help with food assistance. Catarozoli posted on Facebook asking for someone to build a cabinet. Catarozoli wanted to ask her father, a carpenter, but he is dealing with brain cancer. "Within an hour, someone offered to do it," she said.

Helping the City of Waukesha

Catarozoli wanted to find a location with a bus line, a college and low-income families nearby. The pantry was installed next to Tally's Tap & Eatery, S31W24661 W. Sunset Drive. Before the coronavirus pandemic, Tally's had asked Catarozoli to make desserts for its catering service.

"They are still my customer, and I hope to have them back after COVID-19," she said.

The pantry is stocked with shelves of nonperishable food such as noodles, peanut butter, jelly and soup. Other items include toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant.

Catarozoli said if the pantry runs out, she wouldn't be surprised if her team and customer base come through and help fill it back up. She hopes the pantry inspires other businesses to move into action in some way. "What I want to do is touch, move and inspire people by what I do," Catarozoli told Patch.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimated that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans would not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.