Pat Miller is not only a resident of Columbia public housing, she is also a dedicated and consistent volunteer of the area’s food pantry.
The economic downturn causes many to go hungry. To help fight this situation, the Columbia Housing Authority has partnered with the Central Missouri Food Bank and opened the Annie Fisher Food Pantry to accommodate the 650-plus CHA families. Located at 200 Boone Drive, the pantry is open two days a week — Tuesday and Thursday.
For three years, Pat has gone above and beyond to ensure that her neighbors do not go hungry. “She does everything and anything that is needed to make this volunteer-driven food pantry work,” says Ron Schmidt, director of resident services. “She helps recipients check in, shop and bag their items. In addition, she delivers food to those who cannot come to the food pantry themselves. She also helps unload the truck each week and helps stock the shelves.” Pat also is a grateful “customer” who depends on the pantry. “It’s a big help.”
Her volunteering there began when she and her daughter, also a CHA resident, heard about the pantry and went to visit and get some food. “It wasn’t open,” she says, “so we asked the maintenance man why, and he said there wasn’t anybody to open it up.” That prompted her to “talk to somebody at CHA about it and offered to volunteer.”
Although raised in Mexico, Mo., Pat, 63, considers Columbia her home since she “has people here and visited off and on.” In 1994 she moved here and worked as a home health aide for a few years but had to quit because of her health. She has five children — son Brian Fountain and daughter Alana Fountain, both of Columbia, two in Springfield and another in Des Moines, Iowa. She was also a foster parent in Mexico.
Pat used to volunteer two days a week but during cold weather goes only on Tuesday. “It’s about the only thing I do to get out of the house, and I look forward to being down there. It’s about the only time I see people and get to do some talking, plus I love seeing the small kids and giving them candy to calm them down when they get rambunctious.”
“The pantry is something really needed in the public housing area,” she says. “Like me, many don’t have a car, so it’s convenient to walk to.” She says she’d like “to do more” but a stroke in 2003 has curtailed her activity and energy.
Pat considers herself a “home person.” She loves movies, “sews a little bit and fools with a computer. I can entertain myself at home.” In the summer she enjoys planting flowers. She “prays the weather is good” so she can get out to take the bus to go shopping, pay bills and go to the doctor.
Says Ron Schmidt, “Without Ms. Miller, the Columbia Housing Authority’s Resident Services Department would have to depend upon paid staff members to run the food pantry much more than we currently do. While we are more than willing to do this, volunteers like Ms. Miller make it so that we do not have to.”
Pat has nothing but praise for Columbia. “A person doesn’t have to go hungry or without clothes here. When I came to public housing, I was alone and didn’t have a job. They were willing to help me find work. God will help you, but you have to put forth a little effort yourself. I love living here and do what I can to help. Whenever I used to visit people in Mexico, I couldn’t wait to get back to Columbia.”
For Pat Miller, there’s no place like her Columbia home. And for CHA’s food pantry, there’s no volunteer quite like Pat Miller.
Volunteer suggestions are welcome and should be directed to Irene Haskins at (573) 815-1721.
Source:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/mar/03/making-difference/
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