West Shore Urology Families Join to Meet a Need
Earlier this year, the staff and physicians at West Shore Urology (WSU) were invited to host a Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry for our community. Having heard great things about the Feeding America program, it didn’t take long for us to join together, as an office, to raise the money required to purchase the mobile pantry.
On a cold day in January, we gathered together with our families to distribute food. In the process, we not only learned some things about hunger in our community, we also learned some things about ourselves.
Distributing Food and Building Family in Muskegon
Excitement in the air as a large crowd gathered in anticipation of the arrival of the pantry.
When the truck arrived, the food was unloaded and organized onto tables.
Over the next couple of hours, approximately 10,000 pounds of food was distributed to community members in need.
“This is the community I grew up in, and to be able to help in such a small way was a gift to me. To see the people, and the joy that it brought to them and their families, makes me want to be more involved with our community!” – Ericka
Working Side By Side with Family
Many in our office who participated brought their children along to help. Parents and children, in the process of distributing the food items, had the opportunity to work together, side by side, outside of the home.
“It was a good thing for my children to see that they can help lots of people just by doing little things like the food truck.” – Jennifer
Joining a New Family
Perhaps, in the end, the experience was best summed up by Danielle Shaholli, our newest physician assistant:
“Initially, when I signed up to help with the Food Truck Challenge, I expected to help the less fortunate, feed the hungry, and do a good deed for the community. What I gained from the experience is what really surprised me. Being a relatively new member to the Muskegon and West Shore Urology community, I found something that day that I did not expect – I discovered my community, my WSU community.
I was touched by how a group of people, some of whom may be struggling themselves, came together to help others. I got to know spouses, sons, daughters – an opportunity I may not have had otherwise.
Our small community came together to help one another. That day, we strengthened our relationships, worked side by side in a different environment, and gained the satisfaction of doing something bigger than ourselves.
Starting over in a new place is difficult. One wants to find a place to belong. That day, I felt like part of community and learned what real community is. To me, a community is coming together, learning about others, helping one another.”
I think, that day, we not only gained the satisfaction of helping the less fortunate, but we gained a closeness to our other family. I am proud to be part of this community. – Danielle

Dr. Brian Stork, Danielle Shaholli, and Lisa Thurman of West Shore Urology Feeding America in Muskegon, Michigan.
Dr. Stork,
Thanks for sharing your experience at the Mobile Pantry. The Muskegon community has really embraced this model in the last few years, and it’s encouraging to see the impact that it’s making on people in need and the people who volunteer.
Keep up the good work,
Andrew
Feeding America West Michigan
Thank You Andrew!
The real thanks, however, should go to Linda Bailey and her team at the Lakeshore Health Network for organizing the Feeding America Mobile Pantry Service for our Muskegon Community each and every month.
Thanks You Linda:)!
Brian
Brian – fantastic stuff – really inspiring.
Dear West Shore Urology family, staff and physicians.
Thank you all for helping make sure that no family went without food. It was great to get to know your staff and their family. I look forward to working with your team again!
We want to thank all of the staff and physicians who supported the Lakeshore Health Network’s Feeding America Campaign. It is so gratifying to see the faces and hear the comments from the residents of our community coming for food but from the volunteers who make this possible. We are fortunate to have such caring physicians in our community. Thanks again.
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