Kenosha's Grace Welcome Center food pantry and community services organization has been established as an independent nonprofit corporation to operate under, as required by the Grace Lutheran Church Council, as required by a letter from the Grace Lutheran Church Council President and Secretary dated July 27, 2024 (See Grace Lutheran Church's announcment to the Congregation). Kenosha Welcome Center, Inc. (KWC) was incorporated on Sept 3, 2024 to seamlessly assume the services that had been provided by Grace Welcome Center. KWC is in the process of relocating our services to a different location in the Uptown neighborhood

As always, if you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, please call 211 or vist 211.org. They will direct you to organizations that can help.

Meanwhile, Kenosha Welcome Center is on its way to a new location to offer the same services that Grace Welcome Center has been providing for seven years. To date, KWC has:

• Assembled a board of directors
• Filed articles of incorporation with the State of Wisconsin; incorporating as Kenosha Welcome Center, Inc. (KWC )
• Registered Grace Welcome Center as a trademark of Kenosha Welcome Center, Inc
• Received an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS
• Submitted IRS form 1023 for recognition as a charitable and educational nonprofit organization in accordance with sect ion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Filed for recognition as a charitable organization in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 202 subchapter II
• Approved the KWC Fiscal Year 2025 budget

We are proud and humbled to have the support and encouragement of our large food distributors Feeding America and the Kenosha County Food Bank, as well as senior management at other charitable and community-based nonprofit organizations throughout Kenosha County. That support along with Kenosha residents and businesses' habit of rising to the occasion when a community is in need gives us great confidence that we will be up and running again in a new location in short order.

Why We're Here

Many economically disadvantaged and low income residents in Kenosha, Wisconsin rely on Grace Welcome Center's food pantry, hot breakfast and shower program, and clothing and hygiene services.

Grace Welcome Center has blossomed into the second largest food pantry in Kenosha, distributing food to economically disadvantaged individuals and families residing in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. In addition to the food pantry, GWC currently offers hot breakfasts two days a week, as well as showers, and clothing and hygiene necessities.

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The GWC Team

Denise Russell

Executive Director

Jan Dugdale

Food Pantry Assistant

Deb Vega

Breakfast Program Coordinator

Board of Directors

President
Gary Lyons
IT Enterprise Systems Consultant (retired)

Treasurer
Lyn Stevens

Secretary
Bill Siel
2nd District Alderperson - City of Kenosha Common Council

Board Members
Dena Cory


Brandi Ferree
6th District Alderperson - City of Kenosha Common Council

The Grace Welcome Center Board of Directors currently has two vacant Board positions that we are currently recruiting for from community leaders in both the public and private sectors.

Finacial Statements

Grace Wecome Center incorporated as Kenosha Welcome Center, Inc in September of 2024. Our first Federal 990 form for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 will be made available on 15 Apr. 2025. Our first annual report will be made available on 30 Sep. 2025.

Our Partners

The food that is distributed every week originates at the Grace Welcome Center food pantry through private donations, individuals, churches, businesses, local food banks, commercial bakery, local grocery stores, government programs (The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP), and Feeding America®. Please visit our donations page for ways to help.

Grace Welcome Center also coordinates with the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, Carthage College, Gateway Technical College, and Herzing University's Kenosha campus for students wishing to volunteer and for academic credits. Many local Churches coordinate with Grace Welcome Center for volunteers and food drives.