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Shine a light on issues that matter—support local news with your gift today. DECORAH — Both Nancy Pfile and Charlie Smock had worked as volunteers in either a food pantry or a food bank prior to moving to Decorah. It's where they first gained experience—witnessing firsthand the benefits of what a food bank or food pantry can do for an individual or family, and also the community as a whole. "You've got people who move to town for a job," Charlie says. "One month later that job might not be there. Things happen. That's where [the food pantry] comes in." "In those instances, those individuals or families come for as long as they need," Nancy adds, picking up where Charlie left off. "Sometimes it's a week, a month or maybe longer. It only matters that they get what they need." The two sit at a small table in the foyer of the pantry. The foyer is home to a registration table, an entire shelf of bread and some refrigerated and miscellaneous items, such as baked goods. Charlie wears a "Field of Dreams" T-shirt. He's quick to tell a story, even quicker to laugh. "For me," Charlie says, "volunteering is about serving people and being around people. That's what it's about." Smock has been volunteering at the food pantry for about three years. He serves on the board of the Decorah Area Food Pantry, representing Decorah Lutheran Church, but he also volunteers as a guide (helping clients and shoppers find what they need), a driver (rescuing food from area grocery stores), and unloading food from truck deliveries to stock the pantry. "Gotta make sure the newest milk, for instance, gets put in the back, so the stuff nearing expiration gets taken first," he says. Smock is also the go-to emergency fill-in for Pantry Director Matt Tapscott—helping with maintenance or jumping in wherever needed. "I do a little bit of everything," Smock says with a smile. Nancy Pfile, on the other hand, has her own quiet fervor for the work and volunteerism. Pfile has served the food pantry for six years. Currently, she serves as vice president of the board, and she represents Prairie Lakes Church. Pfile moved to Decorah eight years ago from the Waterloo area, where she first served at the food bank in Waterloo. She has a passion for helping people and to see that people get food. She also enjoys the collaborative nature of the food pantry—where people come together to help others. "It's a bit of organized chaos," she says, "but we're moving humanity forward." Pfile is also pleased with the holistic nature of the pantry. While the pantry has been around since 1996, she explains that the food rescue portion of the food pantry started a few years ago, and it was a matter of communication and education. "The board and the pantry director met with store managers to ensure that they weren't throwing away an apple with a slight blemish or bread that's met its expiration date. Those items are still good to eat. Someone could benefit immediately from that food." Pfile explains that they're not only rescuing large amounts of food for people in need, but also keeping that food out of the landfill—a win for both the community and the environment. Over the past two years, they've rescued nearly 200,000 pounds of food from area grocery stores and gas stations. "We compost too," Smock says. "Some produce might go bad, so some of that will go to farmers, composters, gardeners. It's been a good thing." And it is a "good thing," along with a little "organized chaos" and a whole lot of passionate volunteers who ensure that our neighbors and community members find a little relief—and sustenance—when needed. Feed your curiosity! Subscribe to the free newsletter and indulge in all that's local. Your friends will be impressed.

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Quiet Heroes: Inside Decorah's Food Pantry