In Onondaga, Michigan, a small yellow building on Oak Street has seen better days. It has served as a hardware store, barber shop, tattoo parlor, and even an insurance company. But for over 20 years, it stood empty—until Dennis Komyathy came along.
When Dennis retired, he had an idea. He presented a plan to the township: to turn the building into a food pantry for the community. After receiving the green light, he worked hard to bring the building up to code and stocked it with food.
Now, the pantry is thriving, filled with refrigerators, freezers, and shelves of food thanks to donations from the Greater Lansing Food Bank, Meijer, and the Onondaga Community Church. Since it opened last April, the pantry has grown from serving 11 people in its first month to around 75 today.
Each week, Dennis packs boxes full of food. On the third Wednesday of every month, families receive a box of non-perishables and a box of perishables, enough to last them two to three weeks. Dennis dedicates many hours to this project, often joking that his only payment is the candy he adds to the boxes.
What brings him joy? It’s the gratitude he receives from those he helps. One elderly woman told him how much the pantry meant to her, asking if she could return for more food, not wanting to seem greedy. Dennis cherishes moments like these, calling them priceless.
“Seeing someone’s gratitude makes my heart melt,” he shares. For Dennis, it’s more than just giving food; it’s about having a purpose. “I felt a calling to do this for the community,” he says, knowing that a full stomach brings relief to those in need.
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