By Judy Hsu and Blanca Rios, ABC 7 Chicago
VALPARAISO, Ind. (WLS) — It looks and sounds like a typical grocery store.
But the Shared Table Food Pantry, located inside Opportunity Enterprises in Valparaiso, serves a dual purpose.
“We are trying to give back to the community in Porter County. We are also trying to give opportunities for folks that are clients here to get those skills in this learning lab that we’ve created, essentially like a mini-supermarket,” said Rich Bugajski II, chief business operations officer for Opportunity Enterprises.
The pantry operates as a live classroom where clients with disabilities and special needs are trained in every aspect of retail operations.
“Our clients are learning how to cashier and bag, and then customer service is the main portion that we really teach here,” Bugajski added.
Client Katherine Augustine said the opportunity is about more than just skills.
“It gives me a chance to meet with people and, you know, just be sociable with other people. I love it. I do. I love it,” Augustine said.
Client Claudia Roby has been busy building her cashier and stocking skills, but she also understands her work is helping to provide food for those in need.
“It’s important to me because, you know, so people who don’t have breakfast, lunch and dinner every night, you know, you just sharing your food, just sharing the pantry. They don’t have to pay for it; it’s just free,” Roby said.
Since starting operations in June, the Shared Table Food Pantry has provided meals for 750 individuals and their families. Ultimately, Opportunity Enterprises hopes to create a pool of trained talent for local grocery stores.
“It’s an opportunity for neighbors to help other neighbors,” said Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. “It also will also help mitigate some of the, maybe discomfort, others may have in working with someone who lives down the street from them just because they have special needs.”
Bugajski concluded by emphasizing the impact on the clients, saying “It’s all about the encouragement and the possibilities that are endless for our folks that come through the doors who might have otherwise thought, ‘I could never go out into the real world and actually do that job.'”
The Shared Table Food Pantry is open on Fridays. Porter County residents can book an appointment online to receive food.