Iowa State Bank

DUST STORM, MAY 12, 2022

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN BEGEMAN

Marianne Sjaarda, coordinator of Hope Food Pantry in Sioux Center.

I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear.

~ From the 25th chapter of Matthew ~

FOOD AND FRIENDLY SMILE

By Bob Fitch

Hope Food Pantry exists to bring hope to people who are struggling with life more than most of us. “That can be in the form of food, but it can also be a friendly smile. We can look you in the face and give some dignity to your situation,” said Marianne Sjaarda, coordinator of the food pantry.

The pantry was the brainchild of the Center for Financial Education (CFE), where Marianne’s husband, Jim, was a board member. CFE is a Sioux Center nonprofit which offers free, spiritually-based advice on budget development, organizing debt, balancing a checkbook, managing bills, and paying creditors in a timely manner. Marianne and her long-time friend, Bev Jansen, who is the volunteer coordinator, jumped on to help right away. “The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge it. The poverty here is well hidden if you choose not to look,” said Marianne. Every week she meets people who live in poverty and are in need of some help to put food on the table. “We can wring our hands or we can do something about it.”