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Each
month, The TowneLaker features a community member who is leading
the way and making a difference through his or her volunteer efforts in
the community. We give this person the title, "Pathfinder of the Month."
Each and every one of our Pathfinders are special members of the community
we call home, and it's always our privilege to showcase him or her. Once
a year, we invite the community as well as our Community Board to choose
a Pathfinder of the Year. This year, Lynne Saunders, founder of the Cherokee
County based charitable organization, Papa's Pantry, Inc., has been chosen
as The TowneLaker's Pathfinder of the Year.
Lynne
experienced some of the darkest moments in her life when she was in her
'20s. She was married to an abusive man, and finally had the courage to
leave the relationship and took her young daughter, Andrea with her. For
a year and half, she was constantly looking over her shoulder because
she knew her husband would come looking for her. She got a job at Southern
Bell, which allowed her to work under an alias. She met a manager, Bill
Saunders, who was interested in Lynne, but Lynne, not yet divorced and
scared, was not the least bit interested in a new relationship. Lynne
became quite ill at one point and missed a lot of work, which put her
into a financial bind. A local pastor, Bill Saunders, Sr., (Bill's father)
brought Lynne some groceries to help her get by. Not a very trusting person
at this time in her life, Lynne was not receptive to the pastor's gesture,
and told him "to take his charity and leave." He was insistent and told
her "someday you'll do the same for someone else."
Lynne
eventually obtained a divorce from her husband and was able to open her
heart again. She married Bill Jr. and they now have been married for 22
years. Her father in law, known as "Papa" to those around him, passed
away a few years after Lynne and Bill married. She never forgot what "Papa"
had done for her, and it inspired her to pay it forward.
A
mission trip to India led Lynne to the path she now follows. While in
India, she witnessed the daily struggle for survival, and when she returned
to the States, she saw the abundance here and thought, "No one should
ever go hungry with all the resources available to us." Her epiphany and
a lot of prayer inspired her to start Papa's Pantry, Inc., a non-profit
Christian community outreach program based in Cherokee County. "We do
not push religion, but it is the foundation of our organization," said
Lynne.
The
program provides food for families who experience unexpected financial
hardship such as a job layoff, severe illness or suddenly
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becoming
a single parent. According to Lynne, when families find themselves in
dire straights financially, they have to start making choices about what
to spend their money on. Often times, food is the first category people
cut in order to pay the rent and utilities.
Papa's
Pantry works on a partnership philosophy, which is part of the reason
the Pantry is so successful at helping those in need. The partnership
consists of formulating an action plan to get out of the bad situation
their clients have found themselves in. "By partnering with their client,
we continue to provide them with food, and it takes the fear of hunger
away so they are better able to focus on getting back to where they need
to be. We stick with them, arm in arm, as long as they are taking steps
to get on their feet again," said Lynne.
At
the time of Papa's Pantry's conception, Lynne worked for the corporate
office of Home Depot. She started Papa's Pantry out of her basement and
received referrals from area churches and civic organizations. Word quickly
got out amongst these groups, and the demand for the services offered
by Papa's Pantry continued to grow. This year, Lynne was able to quit
her job with Home Depot and dedicate her time, full time, to the Pantry.
She moved the organization out of her basement to a permanent location
in Canton. She also has partnered with Family Solutions, a counseling
center staffed by four different counselors. Lynne said, "Sometimes I
would get into a situation where family or marriage counseling was needed.
Family Solutions was looking for a location in Canton at the same time
I was." The result is a home in downtown Canton which houses Papa's Pantry
and Family Solutions. The Pantry isn't set up to help people with rent,
utilities, transportation or clothing, but it can refer those who need
that assistance to other organizations.
One
of the biggest rewards for Lynne is seeing her clients not only get back
on their feet again, but seeing them turn around and help others. "Several
of my past clients have held food drives for Papa's Pantry or have helped
out a friend or neighbor in need by giving them food. It makes them feel
good to be able to do the same thing that was done for them in their time
of need," she said.
Lynne
is working towards developing a financial curriculum to further assist
her clients. She hopes to have this facet rolled out in early 2005. "I
have relied on God to show me the way this entire time," she said.
Congratulations and
Thank You Lynne for making such a difference in our community.
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