Keeping the spirit of volunteerism alive at the West Liberty Food Pantry, Pam Schnittjer is a humble leader who plays a major leadership role in making the holidays special for struggling families in the West Liberty School District community.
“She deserves a lot of credit,” said fellow food pantry volunteer Julie McKillip. “She goes above and beyond her duty.”
Schnittjer has lead the pantry since 2018 when Dave Baker of the West Liberty Christian Church left the post, but admits having a lot of help from other volunteers, including the Voluntary Action Committee, church groups, civic organizations and the community.
Schnittjer said the pantry started in 1978 when Betty Akers of First Church United in West Liberty got together with Jan Rauch of the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Both were members of an outreach committee in each of their churches and joined forces to establish the Voluntary Action Committee and what is now the Voluntary Action Center at First Church United.
Rhonda Jensen serves as secretary and Mary Larson is treasurer.
Schnittger said the group started out with only “a little closet” inside the church, but when the parish decided to expand facilities, they also included two rooms dedicated to the pantry, including one with refrigerators and freezers.
Schnittjer, who is a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, said every church in the area became involved, and still collect items from parishioners during the holidays to give to the food pantry, which is typically active on Thursday evenings from 6-7 p.m. and Saturday from 9-10 a.m.
Schnittjer says the year started by serving about 80 families, but grew to 90 by mid-year. In October, 106 families participated in the program and continue through November.
Need keeps growing
Schnittjer anticipated that number to continue to grow and expects that by Dec. 13-14 the community will provide more than the 150 holiday food boxes distributed last year.
She said the Voluntary Action Committee does more than feed hungry families and individuals, noting they work at filling other needs like finding beds and furniture for households.
Marian Larson is secretary for the organization and Rhonda Jensen serves as treasurer.
Schnittjer said the food supply at the panty is plentiful thanks to donations from the RiverBend Food Bank and TEFAP, a USDA foods assistance program. But she says the community has been “very generous” as well, with churches, organizations and even individuals providing not only goods, but also monetary donations.
“The food pantry has been blessed with many volunteer workers and community donors,” Schnittjer said. She said there’s even been donations from outside the community from businesses like HyVee and Lepic-Kroeger Real Estate as well as the Iowa Pork Producers.
Holiday Food boxes
Thanks to the coordinating efforts of leaders Melody Henderson and Prescilla Hacssig, the community – including organizations, churches, schools, businesses and donors – will come together to combine efforts in mid-December for the Holiday Food Box giveaway.
Schnittjer admits it’s a combined effort that includes members of the West Liberty Lions Club, Rotary Club of West Liberty, the West Liberty Aquarius Club, West Liberty Golf & Country Club, the local Girl Scouts, the Wapsi 4-H Club, the West Liberty High School Rotary Interact Club, the West Liberty Elementary School, as well as volunteers from churches throughout the area.
NAMI of the Quad Cities provides personal hygiene products and Gentle Family Dentistry provides toothbrushes, while West Liberty Foods, the community’s largest industry, also provides boxes.
All goods are to be collected by Dec. 2, which is also when applications for the Holiday Food Boxes are due at First Church United.
Anyone interested in qualifying for a food box for the distribution needs to fill out an application which is available through the school district, food pantry, West Liberty City Hall, New York Dollar Store, Casey’s in Nichols or the post office in Atalissa. The boxes will include a ham, potatoes, milk and various food items as well as some personal products and laundry detergent.