The Bethel Butikk and Food Pantry on the north side of Westby is in need of expansion. After four years in its current location the former elderly care facility, turned countywide food pantry and resale store is in need of additional storage space and a loading dock.

According to administrator Pastor Gary Daines the thrift shop and food pantry, which provides families in Vernon County and surrounding areas with clothing and household items at reasonable prices, continues to grow and the need for additional storage space can’t stay on the wish list any longer. That, combined with the need for additional food pantry food storage has led the Bethel Butikk board to begin the construction process with a planned 24x24 storage area, with a loading and unloading dock, something the building was never equipped with.

A number of fund-raising events are planned including the recent “Burgers in the Park” on July 31, which provided the community with music and food, with proceeds from the evening going toward the new construction.

“We have a growing base of customers and with continued cost of living increases and higher fuel and utility expenses the numbers aren’t going to get any smaller,” Daines said.

During the first six months of 2008 the Bethel Butikk and food pantry has seen a 20 percent increase in its family-need requests for food and financial assistance with rent and utilities. As of June 30, rental assistance funds distributed stood at $9,500; security deposit assistance was at $2,500, medical funds $1,100; transportation assistance, including automotive repairs and fuel $2,100; phone assistance $1,300; and utilities, including heating, was at all time high of $16,600.

“The requests keep coming and we keep trying to help. It’s not easy out there and people are struggling just to get by,” Daines said.

The Bethel Butikk funds were hit hard in April when families were forced to pay delinquent utility bills or have their utilities shut off. According to Daines the high cost of winter heating bills forced many families to forgo paying their electric and water bills over the winter opting instead to pay their heating bills during the winter months to stay warm.

‘Families are often forced to rob from Peter to pay Paul. It’s not because they want to, but their choices are limited,” Daines said.

The food pantry has also seen a drastic increase in the number of families needing assistance, with its biggest month being August. During the first six months of 2008 over 250 families took advantage of the food pantry with increased use in five of the last eight months of operation.

“The need is definitely out there and we want to help, but our space is limited. The additional room will allow us to store more food and make fewer trips to Madison to restock the shelves-a good thing considering fuel prices,” Daines said.

Anyone wishing to donate food to the pantry should consider canned fruits, cereal and pasta products, which are always in high demand, but home-canned foods are not allowed to be distributed.

The Bethel Butikk resale shop provides an outlet for people to donate clothing and household items which they no longer need, but Daines would like to remind people it’s not a dumping ground for people’s junk. According to Daines when people drop off broken down appliances and dirty clothing it hurts everyone. The cost of sending the items to the landfill cuts into the amount of funding available to purchase food pantry supplies and financial assistance to needy families.

“If it’s broke don’t bring it and if clothing is totally outdated it won’t sell. So just use common sense and don’t make the Butikk a dumping ground for your junk. We provide a community service, not a disposal service," Daines said.

The Butikk is currently well-stocked and ready for the upcoming school year. They are accepting clean clothing and household items which can be dropped off during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. All items are tax deductible, but you must request a form from the volunteer staff when the items are dropped off.

The Westby Lions are hopping on board the building fund with a consignment auction on August 16. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Bethel Butikk to help offset some of the anticipated $25,000 need to complete the project. Anyone wishing to donate to the building fund should contact Pastor Gary Daines at 608-634-3415 or Inga Gerber at the Bethel Home in Viroqua.