50+ Lifestyles

RSVP: Lead With Experience

By Julie Ross
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Eastern Iowa and Western Illnois

Many Hands, Many Faiths Make Life Work: Milan Christian Food Pantry

One of the pleasures of working at RSVP is making birthday calls to our members. This gives our staff the pleasure to wish our volunteers a happy day and to thank them for the good work they do in our community. It also allows RSVP members to share their volunteer experiences with us.

Recently I had the good fortune to give a birthday call to Joan DePaepe, who does the majority of her volunteering at the Milan Christian Food Panty, located at 128 W 4th Street, Milan, IL. During the course of the call, Joan told me what a blessing it was to be able to work at the Pantry and to partner with members of other churches. She shared that is was a privilege and joy to work side-by-side with wonderful people. And she—like just about every volunteer I’ve spoken with that works in a pantry—witnessed the gratitude, happiness, and relief of the recipients of the food. Joan was so passionate and positive about her work at the Pantry, I knew a story for 50+ Lifestyles needed to be written.

Joan and her husband Frank have been with the Pantry since its inception. In about 2005, they had “inherited” the coordinator positions of the food pantry at their home church, St. Ambrose Catholic Church. That pantry closed in December 2011. Around that same time, the president of Blackhawk Bank, Jerry Huiskamp–together with Pastor Joyce Chamberlin of the First Presbyterian Church in Milan, and Trustees of the Brissman Estate began working toward starting a new food pantry to serve the Milan community, which was in need of one. The Brissman Estate (the family ran an auto-supply business in Milan for years and had been members of First Presbyterian Church) had funds available to benefit the citizens of Milan and so it was a logical connection to try to access those funds to start a pantry. A grant was written and received, and so began the hard labor of making the Milan Christian Food Pantry a reality.

A rental space was found next door to the Shear Images Salon, and some heavy remodeling was done. Key players in this task were Harold Ryekaert, Frank DePaepe, Larry Ryekaert, and Jim Ryekaert. Many others helped with painting and decorating.

1st row, left to right: Judy Ryekaert, Charlene Verschoore, Bridget Gaffney, Jody Kerres, Barb Hartman, Joan DePaepe 2nd row: Frank DePaepe, Mike Wynn, Harold Ryekaert, Kathy Wynn, Nancy Brown, Joan DePaepe

On November 4, 2013 the Milan Christian Food Pantry opened. It is a relatively small space, but well-organized with shelving from a closed grocery store, brand-new counters, freshly painted walls, 7 freezers (with an 8th being installed once wiring is done). The pantry is open Mondays, 9-11 a.m. and Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. Pantry Coordinator Mrs. Jody Kerres schedules volunteers from six different churches who work regular shifts at the Pantry. I was told that folks are so enthusiastic and committed to work, that they rarely miss their shifts.

The pantry serves people living in Milan, southwest Rock Island, Coyne Center, Andalusia and Taylor Ridge. It is the only pantry in the area open in the evenings, which is useful to many working poor.  On their first visit to the pantry, clients must show an ID and a piece of mail with proof address. They are then able to come to the pantry once every 30 days, and must show an ID. Visitors to the pantry are given fresh produce, cereal, canned vegetables, tuna, boxes of “Helper,” frozen meat, and many other nutritional and household necessities. I was told many visitors to the Pantry will only take what they actually need and know they will use. The workers told me they often hear, “I don’t need that—please give it to someone else who can.” Visitors to the pantry are also treated with great respect–volunteers to greet them as they arrive and help carry their bagged items to their car.

There are six churches that partner to make the Milan Food Pantry successful: Trinity Methodist, St. Matthew’s Lutheran, First Presbyterian, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (Andalusia), 4-Square Church/The Bridge, and St. Ambrose.

In total there are over 100 volunteers working at the Milan Christian Food Pantry—many of them are also RSVP members. If you would like to get involved in this or other food pantries, give us a contact at RSVP (309) 793-4425, rsvp@wiaaa.org.

If you would like to make a donation to the Milan Christian Food Pantry (128 W. 4th Street), call (309) 787-1080. Monetary gifts and goods–including non-perishable food items, paper goods (paper towels, toilet paper, feminine supplies, diapers, etc.), cleaning supplies (dish, laundry soap, etc.)–are always needed.