October 29, 2025 – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin – Each fall, thousands of salmon make their final journey up Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan tributaries to spawn. Thanks to a creative collaboration between the Door County Food Pantry Coalition, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Baileys Harbor Fish Company, that journey now ends with full food pantry freezers and nourished families across Door County.
This partnership will harvest and process 12,000 pounds of salmon during this year’s annual salmon run at the DNR’s Strawberry Creek Chinook Facility in Sturgeon Bay. The result is a sustainable source of high-quality protein that will keep each of Door County’s ten food pantries stocked with salmon for the entire year. Fish is a rare resource in many food pantries due to higher prices compared to other protein sources. This collaboration ensures families in Door County have access to nutritious, locally sourced food.
“With the rising cost of food, even simple meals have become a stretch for many families,” said Paula Wendland of Bay View Lutheran Food Pantry. “Access to high-quality protein is often out of reach for people with limited means. Being able to offer fresh, local salmon is incredible. It’s nutritious and a true blessing for the families we serve.”
Each Thursday in October, Baileys Harbor Fish Company travels to Strawberry Creek to collect, transport, and process 3,000 pounds of salmon. Once filleted and vacuum-sealed, the fish are stored in Baileys Harbor and distributed monthly to every pantry in the county, providing a consistent supply of protein-rich meals.
“Transforming these fish into meals for families in need has been a rewarding part of our work,” said Carin Stuth, owner at Baileys Harbor Fish Company. “It’s amazing to see how a natural event like the salmon run can directly benefit our neighbors. We were proud to take part in the 2025 salmon harvest at Strawberry Creek Hatchery and look forward to delivering this season’s catch to families in Door County.”
To learn more about the Door County Food Pantry Coalition, make a donation, or to find food assistance, visit feeddoorcounty.org.
The Door County Food Pantry Coalition, a fund of the Door County Community Foundation, and collaboration with United Way of Door County, includes the following member pantries:
Bay View Lutheran Church (Sturgeon Bay)
- Door of Life Pantry (Sister Bay)
- Feed and Clothe My People of Door County (Sturgeon Bay)
- Holy Name of Mary Food Pantry (Maplewood)
- Klaud’s Food Pantry at Shepherd of the Bay (Ellison Bay)
- Koinonia Kupboard at First Baptist Church (Sister Bay)
- Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry (Sturgeon Bay)
- Stella Maris CARE 24/7 Food Pantry (Fish Creek)
- Sturgeon Bay Community Church Pantry (Sturgeon Bay)
- Washington Island Community Health Program Food Pantry (Washington Island)
The Door County Community Foundation, Inc. is a collection of separate charitable funds set up by individuals, families,
non-profit organizations, private foundations and businesses that are managed, invested and disbursed for the current
and future good of Door County. The Community Foundation was launched in 1999, currently administers more than
$65 million in assets, and distributes more than $7 million to charities every year.
