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Friday, November 8, 2019 • Vol. 6, No. 9 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1
Inside Alders propose budget amendments Page 3 Former Mayor Doug Morrissette dies Page 9
Halloween photos Page 10
Business
Cosa Boutique opens on west side Page 15
Sports
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Seeking a ‘better community’
Redeemer City Church using its spacious new location to build neighborhood connections MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
As you walk into Redeemer City Church on Fitchburg’s north side, there are no crosses, pictures of Jesus or stained glass windows. A communal kitchen is at the heart of the 11,000 square foot building, with office space and an auditorium-style room to the side for its services. The only indication that the 5356 King James Way facility houses a church is the portable banner that reads “Welcome.” Redeemer City, formerly set up and torn down weekly at Chavez Elementary School, has been in the new location for seven months, and its lack of religious decor is intentional, pastors Casey Johnson and Nate Hobert told the Star. The Jamestown neighborhood has been without a community center since the closure of the city’s Fire Station No. 2 in 2017, and Redeemer City is trying to fill that void. That means making people in the neighborhood feel comfortable being there, regardless of their religious beliefs, Johnson said. The two pastors say they want neighbors to have a connection point to resources in the neighborhood. The neighborhood, west of Verona Road, is isolated from other resources accessible to most Fitchburg residents, Hobert said. Valuable community centers such as the Boys and Girls Club, Allied Wellness Center and the Fitchburg
Photo by Mackenzie Krumme
Nate Hobert, pastor of spiritual formation at Redeemer City Church, sings with the congregation during a sermon on Sunday, Nov. 3. Community Center are an inconvenient bus ride away, and the Badger Prairie Needs Network, which also serves the area, is headquartered in Verona. “The reason why we want to be
“We want people to see value in the church again. Because when the church comes alongside, whatever work, whatever project, whatever nonprofit; it can be a better community.”
Turn to Community/Page 13
Casey Johnson, pastor at Redeemer City Church
BPNN has some new wheels for cool meals Group uses grant money for refrigerated van NEAL PATTEN Unified Newspaper Group
Verona boys soccer earns first state berth Page B1
Schools OSD narrows names for new school Page B6
Photo by Neal Patten
Volunteers Gregg and Jan Weaver proudly show off the new refrigerated van Badger Prairie Needs Network has purchased for pick-ups and deliveries. The funding came from a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
The Badger Prairie Needs Network has purchased its first vehicle, through a $51,500 grant from the Walmart Foundation, which will allow them to effectively transport unused food from local food donors. BPNN was one of 13 food banks nationally chosen to receive funding from hundreds of applicants. The funds had to be used to build food bank volunteer and agency capacity, according to a Walmart Foundation news release. BPNN used the money to purchase a refrigerated van to help collect food from area grocery and convenience stores that provide close-to-expiration foods such as meats, produce and dairy products.
Before purchasing the van, volunteers used 36 personal vehicles to collect food, presenting a concern for food safety in unrefrigerated vehicles. Last year, around 200,000 pounds of food collected required immediate refrigeration, preventing BPNN from collecting food outside of a 30-minute drive. The van will allow volunteers to pick up more food for repackaging. Donated food that is close to expiration is reheated and flash-cooled or frozen, extending the expiration date often by a week. Another benefit of the van is BPNN can now distribute food to smaller pantries, and also might help bring on new volunteers, since not all volunteers can bear the expense of using their private vehicles for pickups. BPNN estimates they have had over 800 people volunteer in the past two years, providing a combined 40,000 volunteer hours. Neal Patten can be contacted at neal. patten@wcinet.com.
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