Started in May, 2000 with the Memorial Funds of longtime church member, Elsie Schraeder and 25 bins of food from the Post Office “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign, as well as donations from the congregation. Here’s a letter from Elsie’s daughter, Jackie Pyle:
Elsie Schraeder was a child of the depression, and a World War II bride. Born of very modest means, she had tremendous faith in Christ. The Sere
nity Prayer was one of her favorites and I honestly can never remember her worrying. No one was ever turned away from her table; there was always "room for one more" in her household. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and aunt and a friend to all. She was an avid volunteer, always willing to give of her time and whatever resources she had. She held every major position in the church, serving on the Board of Deacons, an officer of her own Sunday School class as well as the various Women's Societies and Circles, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday School for over 30 years. Additionally, she was President of her local PTA and PEO (which was a philanthropic educational society), serving on state boards as well, volunteered with the March of Dimes and read for the Recordings for the Blind. She had a contagious smile and always found the good in everything. Her glass was always "half full". She was literally the person who would give you the shirt off her back. ( At one point I found out that she was not filling one of her heart prescriptions as she felt that money was better spent playing minature golf with her two granddaughters.) She was keenly sensitive to the dignity and pride of each person she encountered. She would be the first person to look for ways to reach out do something nice for someone else. Every single thing she did was based on her tremendous faith in Christ and her belief in the value and worth of each person. She could truly find the positive in any situation and always felt as long as we all worked to help each other, God would provide. When she died, Pastor Dave expressed a need for a new computer for the church with her memorial funds. My mom never owned a computer, had zero interest in technology, and he and I began to think of something that might better be a true memorial to my mom. Hence, Elsie's pantry was begun.
