Lake Whitney-area food bank director wins AmeriCorps award at MCC

• Connie Stahl

Connie Stahl, Director of the Lake Whitney-Our Daily Bread Food Bank, has won the AmeriCorps RSVP “2024 Volunteer of the Year” award to be presented at the McLennan Community College Conference Center in Waco on Saturday, June 29, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Stahl will be presented this honor by Congressman Pete Sessions and State Representative Doc Anderson during the annual RSVP Volunteer Recognition Event.

Approximately 200 volunteers, site managers and community representatives from the will be in attendance. Connie is a small woman with a huge heart for helping others. She truly makes a difference in the LakeWhitney area.

The first Memorandum of Understanding with RSVP was signed in March of 2004. Connie and her husband, Robert, have been volunteering with RSVP at the food bank ever since. Our Daily Bread Food Bank reports over 2,200 household members served each quarter. Connie began volunteering at the food bank when she stopped one day after spotting the original Lake Whitney Our Daily Bread sign. She asked how she could help and learned the site did not have bread. Two days later, Connie had arranged for a steady bread supply of 100 loaves a week and she began actively working at the pantry.

Under the umbrella of the Lake Whitey Ministerial Alliance, Connie quickly determinized that “We needed the space to serve the growing population of people and families that need food.”

She and her team worked diligently to raise the needed funds to build the new food bank. Connie has devoted herself to the organization three days a week ever since.

“Connie is more than a wonderful volunteer, she is a true leader. She has vision, heart and a willingness to work hard for her community. She is truly remarkable,” RSVP Program Director Susan Copeland said.

Connie Stahl is very humble, taking no direct credit for the success of the food bank. She talks openly about how much fun it is to work with the other volunteers and to problemsolve with her team. She is responsible for ordering all the foodandtrainingthevolunteers. She determines what is an adequate amount of food for each family and maintains muchofthefoodbank’srecords along with fund raising. When asked why she continues this impactful work, she states that it’s fun and that people should always volunteer to help others. With a smile and outreaching arms, Connie said “Where else would I be?”. In reality, where would the thousands of clients be without, Connie Stahl?

The Heart of Texas RSVP will also be celebrating 30 years under the Federal management of AmeriCorps. The program has been sponsored and housed by McLennan Community College for almost 35 years in Waco and serves the 6 county Heart of Texas area. Connie Stahlwasselectedforthisaward from hundreds of volunteers throughout the region.

The Clifton High School Class of 1974 held its 50th high school reunion on Saturday, June 1, 2024, with a barbecue lunch at the Wiede's home followed by an afternoon and evening of reconnecting and remembrances at Trapper's Tavern in Clifton. Those alumni present included (back, from left) Carl Willmann, Alan ‘T’ Roberts, Bobby Horn, Craig Meinkowsky, Danny Bergman, Mike Voiles, Warren Dahl, Edwin Dyer, Lloyd Wiede, Jon Thornburg, Don McDowell, Mike Pierson, Rodney Rueter, Robert Payne, Claude White; (front, from left) Joe Todd, Rickey Henry, Teresa Bell Crawford Phillips, Mary Allen Plemmons, Jeana Prueitt Rainey, Paula Wright Tavary, Donna Hulme Marin, Anita Hampe Nichols, Becky Hammond Terrell, Diann Smith Pitts, Nancy Homerstad Bailey, Mickey Huffman, C.R. Sinderud, Coach Richard Liardon, and Charles Lindley.