Categories:
Faith in Action Honorees
Greatest accomplishments:
When the world shut down five years ago, due to COVID, SVDP closed for one Monday. The next week, we discussed how we were to move forward. We decided to move our distribution outside, using carts to take food to those in vehicles. At that time two of our leaders had to withdraw from volunteering due to the health conditions of close family members. Therefore, Bernie and I became instrumental in organizing the pantry for outdoor distribution. We helped schedule deliveries from Midwest and Eastern IL Foodbanks and coordinated packing food, while reminding volunteers to “keep six feet apart”. With everyone wearing masks, we distributed food to all who came for it.
Bernie did the outdoor registration, initially writing down the names, number of household members and other information. Dorothy coordinated getting the information into the Link2feed website to keep accurate records of the number served. The USDA uses numerical data to determine the volume of food sent to the pantry. We soon realized that there must be an easier way to register guests and purchased walkie-talkies to use to do so. Hooray! Calling in the contact information of those getting food, and immediately entering it into the computer, simplified the process greatly. We have improved our radio system and currently have three people entering data to keep the lines moving.
In 2018 Bernie received the “Illinois AMVETS Outstanding Individual Recognition Award”, and Dorothy received it in 2021, recognizing our volunteer work with the organization.
Bernie has been supportive as Dorothy received the 4th Quarter of 2022 designation as an Extraordinary Woman: for “quiet efforts, tenacity and perseverance”. Dorothy received the Betty Kinser Award for “service to the community’.
Bernie has been instrumental in adding two gardens to the St, Isidore Garden which supplies fresh produce to the St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry from early May, radishes and scallions, to October, tomatoes and peppers.
Why do we continue volunteering?
Both of us were raised on a farm, part of large families who were always involved in whatever was going on. We continued to volunteer during high school, not much while in college, then became involved in activities as young adults, and later parents and business owners. Bernie coached for years as our children were growing up. He was one of the original Trustees of the BNGSA, Bloomington-Normal Girls Softball Association, and served as President for several years. During the years they operated childcare centers, Dorothy and Bernie were active volunteers in local, state and national early childhood organizations.
When we see and hear appreciation from the people we serve, it encourages us to continue the work we do as we grow and distribute much needed food to those in the community.
The photo was from out 60th Anniversary party. Our anniversary was on November 28, 2024, but we celebrated in early August so that we could invite friends and relatives to join us at our family farm pond south of Chatsworth,
