Teams of children from area schools frequently help pack baskets to be delivered to clients at the Janesville Area Food Shelf, located in Trinity Lutheran Church with its own outside entry door. Baskets are prepared at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Janesville Food Shelf serving those in need
Thu, 03/19/2026 - 12:15am
The Janesville area food shelf has typically distributed nearly 55,000 pounds of food to nearly 850 households each year over the past few years, reports organization director Kay Gottschalk.
The food shelf has its own entry door toward the south end of the west wall of Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, off the alley. Its hours are Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m., with additional time on the second Thursday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. It is also open on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.
According to Gottschalk, a food shelf has existed in Janesville since 1991 or before, although it moved around a bit prior to finding its current location. Volunteers come from churches in the Janesville area.
Gottschalk indicates she is grateful for the number of donations the food shelf receives from local residents. Another important source is a relationship with Kwik Trip north in Waseca, which gives weekly donations of supplies.
As with most area food shelves, the organization also relies on a distribution system known as Channel One, based out of Rochester. Channel One acquires food from various businesses and large-scale food producers at reduced prices, then distributes them among regional food shelves at prices far below retail.
Food shelf volunteers man the facility during its open hours, and also take care of soliciting and picking up donations, and stocking shelves with supplies.
“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes,” comments Gottschalk.
At Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the food shelf distributes about 60 seasonal baskets which include the makings of a traditional holiday meal, complete with special donations from the Waseca County Dairy Association. Teams of local schoolchildren frequently help with the task. Gottschalk says anyone wanting more information or wishing to make a donation can access the organization’s Facebook page, or contact her via phone or email at 507-521-1107, janesvillefoodshelf@gmail.com.
Money is the most flexible type of donation thanks to the low prices available through Channel One, but for those wishing to donate food, she says some of the most high traffic products are canned meats; canned mandarin oranges or pineapple; spaghetti sauce; and baking materials such as sugar, flour and oil. Clients also look for hygiene items including paper towels, toilet paper and tissues.