Volunteer

About 18 years ago, Bob Richards noticed a flyer on the St. Matthew’s Church bulletin looking for volunteers to pick up donations and he immediately volunteered. Bob drove to Shaws, picked up the donation, and went to the Windham Presbyterian Church on distribution day to drop it off. After arriving, he met Suzie Noyles who quickly showed him the ropes and Bob has been a volunteer ever since!

Bob is instrumental behind the scenes and is also a Windham Turkey Trot volunteer.  Last year, Bob was posting Turkey Trot flyers at local businesses and met Ed Kelley, the owner of Pedego bikes. Their conversation about Shepherd’s Pantry’s mission to help families in need and the Windham Turkey Trot fundraiser inspired Ed to generously donate a Pedego electric bike to the Turkey Trot in 2023 and this upcoming year!

His first job was sorting and preparing plastic bags for distribution under Suzie Noyles’ watchful eye. Today, Bob is the “cardboard guy” and breaks down all of the cardboard boxes to recycle. In addition, both Bob and his sister assemble weekly grocery bags for distribution day.

The volunteers are without a doubt his favorite part of Shepherd’s Pantry.

“They’re all great people and I look forward to seeing them every Monday morning.” – Bob Richards

Thank you, Bob, for your kind words and generous service!

Fun Fact: Our October Volunteer Spotlight is a behind-the-scenes volunteer who primarily communicates via text/phone with fellow volunteers, such as Lauri Putnam, but have yet to meet in person!

15 years ago, an ad was posted in the St. Matthew’s Church bulletin looking for volunteers and Dan Hoyt answered the call. With every need that arises, in his can-do spirit, Dan always responds that he’s happy to help!

Dan is Shepherd Pantry’s NH Food Pantry Shopper and every week he orders milk from Shaws, which is picked up by fellow volunteer, Lauri Putnam. He also has special assignments! Last year, he began to assist with the Windham Turkey Trot to cultivate sponsors for water and snack donations for the trotters. Dan also helped organize the generous Easter Ham donation from the local Windham business, Prime Butcher, and the Thanksgiving Turkeys donation from Market Basket.

“There’s a lot of people who are hungry and I’m happy to help!” – Dan Hoyt

Thank you for your dedication and service to Shepherd’s Pantry!

Lauri Putnam is a long-time member of the Windham Presbyterian Church, which generously opens its doors to Shepherd’s Pantry every Monday morning. She became familiar with Shepherd’s Pantry through her church, her work, and her friendship with Laura Marcille, a co-founder of Shepherd’s Pantry.

Lauri officially became a Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer in 2021, by walking over to the Presbyterian Church on Distribution Day and asking how she could help. Today, Lauri is the “milk woman” and picks up fresh milk every Monday from Shaws to distribute to our clients.

Before joining Shepherd’s Pantry, Lauri taught in the Windham School District, specifically Golden Brook School, and both participated and delivered food donations from school to Shepherd’s Pantry.

Lauri feels that she is “fortunate to be able to do this for the community with a really good group of people.” She has always had  a “calling to help people who were food insecure.”

Lauri and her husband, Kimball, are also dedicated to helping those in need gain access to clean water and wells, particularly in third-world countries.

“Food security, clean water, and medical care are something that should be provided to everyone.” – Lauri Putnam

Thank you for your dedication and service to your community! We truly appreciate you!

Lorraine Henricks and Lorraine Conway are current, long-time members of the Shepherd’s Pantry and friends from St. Matthew’s Church. Lorraine Conway learned of Shepherd’s Pantry through her friend and fellow volunteer, Anne Bauer. Her first job was a cart pusher and, rain or shine, Lorraine C. was pushing carts on Monday Distribution Days. When she joined, Lorraine C. was “happy to be helping those in need” and thought this was a wonderful group of people.  Another important job of Lorraine C.’s is inventory and, while having coffee at St. Matthews after mass, she asked Lorraine Henricks if she could help her, and the rest is history!

Known as “The Two Lorraines”, they are instrumental in the behind the scenes of Shepherd’s Pantry. Every week, the Lorraines meet at the warehouse to review inventory and prepare the “Thanksgiving” and “Christmas” specialty bags. For the 2023 Holiday Season,  the Lorraines made 250 Thanksgiving bags and 250 Christmas bags that were distributed to our clients!

“Food is a basic need and [I’m] glad to be helping those in need, especially with the inflation today.” – Lorraine Henricks

Thank you, “The Lorraines”, for your dedication and support of Shepherd’s Pantry!

Paul Montenero is a current Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer, who has the biggest heart and cares not only about Shepherd’s Pantry clients, but also fellow volunteers.

Paul’s favorite job is the Heav’nly Donuts pick-up. Every Monday morning, Paul goes to the Windham Heav’nly Donuts and picks up a donation of donuts and pastries for Shepherd’s Pantry.

“Shepherd’s Pantry is the most uplifting thing I’ve ever done” – Paul Montenero

Thank you, Paul, for your dedication and support of Shepherd’s Pantry!

Alberta Corvi is a long-time Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer and, at 93 years old, she’s not slowing down! When Alberta retired as a librarian, she was friends with Suzie Noyles and mentioned an interest in finding something to do. In July 2004, Alberta joined Shepherd’s Pantry and, before COVID, she oversaw collecting our clients name cards and would bring them to the kitchen for the clients’ orders to be filled. After COVID, Alberta took a step back from volunteering in-person, but “I was driving myself crazy at home and wanted something to do.”

Alberta is now in charge of preparing bags for the Monday Distribution Day at her home and will continue to number the paper bags and organize the plastic bags. All the banana boxes in this photograph are full of folded and organized plastic bags were prepared by Alberta!

Thank you, Alberta, for your continued dedication and support to Shepherd’s Pantry!

Photographed left to right: Rick Dolan and Alberta Corvi.

Rick Dolan is a current, long-time volunteer who joined Shepherd’s Pantry in 2014. A former air traffic controller, one of Rick’s main jobs at Shepherd’s Pantry and the Windham Turkey Trot is traffic and parking control.

Every Monday morning, Shepherd’s Pantry families are greeted with a smile and wave from Rick, who is the first volunteer they see each week. 

On his first day at Shepherd’s Pantry, he showed how many hats he could wear and, as a result, joined many behind-the-scenes teams on his first day. He’s the meat pick up coordinator, brings prepared grocery bags for Monday Distribution, and restocks our on-site pantry during the week.

“Shepherd’s Pantry has been a great experience to meet a lot of people in town and having something to do every Monday.” – Rick Dolan

Thank you, Rick, for your continued support and dedication to Shepherd’s Pantry!

Jean and Dick Collopy are long-time serving Shepherd’s Pantry volunteers who were introduced to the pantry by volunteers Russ and Joan Gebo.

During Thanksgiving week, Shepherd’s Pantry was in search for another volunteer with a truck to help with the Thanksgiving frozen turkeys pick up from the New Hampshire Food Bank. Dick had a truck that he was planning to trade in after his retirement, but decided to keep his truck and begin volunteering at Shepherd’s Pantry to complete various donation pick up’s and drop off’s. Jean played a key role in making client bags every Monday morning in the pantry kitchen, where there were always laughs and fun to be had.

The Collopy’s never met a volunteer they didn’t like and see Shepherds Pantry as an extended family. When COVID began, Jean took a step back from the pantry and Dick continued to volunteer on Monday Distributions until he became ill with COVID. Dick has since recovered and both he and Jean “think of volunteers every Monday morning.” After all, Shepherd’s Pantry operates rain or shine!

Thank you, Collopy Family, for your dedication and service with Shepherd’s Pantry!

(Photographed left to right: Jean Collopy and Dick Collopy)

Robin Heider is a current Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer who wears a plethora of hats. From being a “coffee lady” to meat and everything in between, Robin’s volunteer roles are on Monday Distribution Days and behind-the-scenes.

Before COVID, Robin was a “coffee lady” at the hospitality table with Dottie DiOrio, but she “always felt like she wanted to do more” at Shepherd’s Pantry. After COVID, Robin was interested in the meat distribution and wanted to help more when volunteers left during COVID. Today on Monday Distribution Days, Robin oversees the meat delivery, sorting, and bagging the meat for our clients. During the week and behind-the-scenes, Robin does a donation pick-up at Hannaford and brings the donation on Mondays for distribution.

“It’s been a joy working and I enjoy doing it!” – Robin Heider

Thank you, Robin, for your dedication to Shepherd’s Pantry, you are a rockstar!

Russ and Joan Gebo are former, long-time serving Shepherd’s Pantry volunteers for roughly 25 years. Joan became involved with Shepherd’s Pantry when she asked Shepherd’s Pantry co-founder, Sue Kling about volunteer work. Sue introduced them to Shepherd’s Pantry and Gebo’s volunteer adventure began! 

One of Russ’s duties was the New Hampshire Food Bank pick up, and he especially enjoyed it during Thanksgiving, when he would pick up the turkeys for the Thanksgiving distribution. Russ would also complete additional vendor pickups, such as Hannafords. One day, a Hannafords employee contacted Shepherd’s Pantry about a bread donation and Russ collected it. He spoke with the employees and emphasized how grateful both the pantry volunteers and its clients were for this donation. To this day, Shepherd’s Pantry receives weekly bread and pastry donations from generous vendors such as Hannafords.  

Joan has collaborated with a multitude of fellow volunteers and has always seen Shepherd’s Pantry as a warm, welcoming community. The comradery and sense of community amongst volunteers is what makes Shepherd’s Pantry. “The goodness of the volunteers who worked there and the people made the volunteering fun.” – Joan Gebo

Thank you, Gebo Family, for your dedication and service to Shepherd’s Pantry!

(Photographed left to right: Joan Gebo and Russ Gebo)

Dottie DiOrio. is a former, long-time Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer who learned about the food pantry from her friend, Lila Bailey. She greatly enjoyed volunteering on Monday mornings at the hospitality table and welcoming both fellow volunteers and clients as they arrived.

Despite not being a morning person, Dottie was always the first volunteer to arrive on Monday Distribution days with a vital job: to begin brewing the coffee at 6:30AM. She always had the coffee hot and Heav’nly Donuts prepared and ready for clients and volunteers alike!

“I was popular with clients and volunteers because I was the one with the coffee!” – Dottie DiOrio.

Thank you, Dottie, for your service and dedication to Shepherd’s Pantry!

Sixteen years ago, Larry Bisbee answered an ad in the newspaper looking for volunteers at a local food pantry. He had recently moved to the area and was looking for something to do in his new community.

“I didn’t know I’d be inheriting a family!” – Larry Bisbee

Larry is a current, long-time Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer and has enjoyed volunteer roles from arriving at pantry early to help prepare for Monday’s distribution to Refrigerator Rescue! One of Larry’s first volunteer duties was to search for refrigerator space and ice cream coolers to help store donations of frozen turkeys for the Thanksgiving distribution.

Thank you, Larry, for your dedication and service with Shepherd’s Pantry!

Suzie Noyles is a highly-valued, former Shepherd’s Pantry volunteer who greatly enjoyed collecting donations, especially at Mac’s Apples. She’s well-known for her quick wit and clever jokes, such as:

“Why is the Statue of Liberty’s arm 11 inches long?”
“Well, if it’s 12 inches, then it’d be a foot!”

Suzie has kept volunteers’ spirits high and has been an instrumental part of Shepherd’s Pantry for many years. “There’s so much work, but we still have fun doing it!” – Suzie Noyles

Thank you, Suzie, for your dedication and enthusiasm to Shepherd’s Pantry!