Sally LaFountains journey with the Siggenaek Center Food Pantry started back in 2019.To me, understanding a culture thats different from your own, whatever that culture happens to be, is very important, said LaFountain. Affectionately known as "Sam," she saw the growing number of Hispanic and Native American residents coming through the doors and decided to transition from volunteering to help run it full-time.We desperately need to make sure that we can communicate with these people in the proper manner so they dont misunderstand what were trying to do for them, said LaFountain.Watch: Local food pantry works to respect cultures of clients. Siggenaek Center Food Pantry offers resources in Mitchell Street neighborhoodHoused next door to the Congregation of the Great Spirit in the Historic Mitchell Street neighborhood, the nonprofit works with Hunger Task Force to serve an average of nearly 250 pounds of food per person.They could easily have serviced maybe at most 10 people a week, and now we are running between 800 and 1,000 people per month, said LaFountain.Isabel Habana started volunteering in the pantry about a year ago.I always came here and got food, and everybody knows me here, so I decided to stay, said Habana. Habana calls the area home and is one of the pantry's bilingual volunteers.She tries to help her neighbors and make them feel as safe as she can.It's very rewarding. I've been doing it for so many years, and theres no other thing that I would rather do than be here, said Habana.Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip