- We're at The Bridge Food and Diaper Bank in Walworth County, finding out what it takes to run this finely-tuned operation.

[upbeat music] I began by chatting with Executive Director Tammy Dunn.

- Tammy Dunn: The Bridge Food and Diaper Bank, we're a food pantry, so we're helping about 500 households every month that are facing food insecurity.

We also help them with diapers, incontinence products, period supplies.

So we really take that edge off.

And then as a food bank, we're also helping about a dozen other pantries throughout the county.

- Absolutley, your footprint extends beyond your physical space and into, like you said, the other food banks that you support as well.

- Tammy: The face of hunger, it is not what people think.

It happens everywhere.

I think what people are always surprised about is that only 2% of our guests come every month.

So, you know, they come when they need us and we're here for them when they need us.

- It sounds like, just based on the number of volunteers that you have, that they really are like a lifeline for your organization.

- Yeah, they are.

I mean, when you think about the fact that we will move 500,000 pounds of food valued at a couple million dollars through this building every year.

There's just so much joy and laughter in this building when they're helping people.

- And that's important when you think about the work here, the care, the dignity that's preserved for people who may feel uncomfortable, as you mentioned, coming in, seeking help.

- Tammy: It really is neighbors helping neighbors.

They show up every week, and they are just this well-oiled machine.

- Angela: A machine so well-oiled, I jumped right in to help.

Hi, Marian, nice to meet you too.

Very nice.

Okay.

- Volunteer: All right.

That's it.

- Awesome.

Well, thank you all.

- Oh, absolutely.

- Angela: All to support guests visiting The Bridge, like Valerie Rohde, whose family started coming here after their business fell on tough times and closed.

- Valerie Rhode: We found ourselves at the point where we had just tried to do it so much on our own, and we just needed help.

So, that's kind of how we landed here.

We just kind of were able to find the bank, and we're so grateful to come and just have their help.

- And what has that meant for you and your family?

- Just the kindness and the respect and the, just the love.

It's obviously helped my kiddos.

Just being able to have a place where there is love and support in a time where we, you know, didn't expect to need it.

I guess important for us is that we felt, again, like we belong here and we weren't, you know, looked down upon.

They truly just came alongside to help.

And we've been able to also share with others in similar situations who needed help.

- I love that.

Can I hug you?

- Yeah, absolutely!

- Thank you so much.

- Yeah, absolutely.

- Angela: Neighbors helping neighbors, here at The Bridge.

[upbeat music]