Courtesy Photo Pictured from left to right are the Rev. Tom Orth of Grace Lutheran Church, Joe Gentry of FFNM Legacy Foundation, Mary Lappan, Little Food Pantry coordinator, Connie Stepanski, pantry volunteer, and Tom Lappan, Grace Lutheran Church Council president.

ALPENA — First Federal of Northern Michigan Legacy Foundation presented a $2,000 check to Grace Lutheran Church as one of their second quarter grant recipients. The $2,000 will be used to purchase food and paper products for the church’s Little Food Pantry.

Grace Lutheran began the Little Food Pantry in December 2018 to help meet the food insecurities in Alpena and surrounding areas. The pantry is stocked with nonperishable food, paper products, personal hygiene products, baby items, and more. The Little Food Pantry is located in front of the church and also in a cabinet inside the entryway to the church located at 119 W. Dunbar St., Alpena. The pantry is open 24 hours, 7 days a week for anyone in need of food or personal items on a short-term basis.

The Little Food Pantry is a completely volunteer-led and volunteer-run project. The volunteers shop weekly to ensure basic items are available and keep the pantries stocked and organized. It is supported through the generous donations from Grace Lutheran church members, the community, and grants. If you would like to make a donation, you may drop off unexpired nonperishable food, paper products or personal hygiene items inside the entrance of Grace Lutheran at any time. To make a cash donation, contact the church office at 989-354-2640.