The Decorah Community Food Pantry
DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg
Matt Tapscott will take our members on a wonderrful journey into his passion for the Decorah Community Food Pantry and those for whom it serves.
"Hunger is a story we can end," says Feeding America, the Decorah Community Food Pantry's national "upline" supplier. The Pantry has a formal agreement with Feeding America established through their partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo. Matt and the Pantry staff feel strongly that hunger is a story we must hear, particularly at the local level. The local Pantry refers to the people who use the Pantry (clients) as neighbors, because that is who they are. These are people who sit in church next to us, at the classroom desk in our schools, and serve as our co-workers.
In America, a typical household throws away 30-40% of its food. We use convenience of packaging at our own peril. The "convenience" may be literally burying us alive in the amount of plastic and food waste we throw into our landfills. Addressing food insecurity in America requires addressing food waste.
After three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Matt was introduced, by chance, to early childhood education as a career option. He fell in love with the work and stayed in that field for 40 years as a teacher, administrator and childcare business owner. He "retired" in 2022 from the life's work he loved. After six weeks of retirement Matt was approached by the Decorah Community Food Pantry board members to explore becoming a part-time director for the Pantry. That invitation happended three years ago this summer. Though early childhood education is his first passion he is honored and loves being part of the work of the Pantry. Matt's time serving at the Pantry has reinforced his admiration for the local Decorah and Winneshiek County communities and the tremendous support they provide.
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**Please complete your noon meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.