🔦 Volunteer Spotlight: Deanna Tikkanen
- Springs Food Pantry
- Aug 5
- 5 min read
For nearly a decade, Deanna Tikkanen has been one of the steady, dependable volunteers who help keep Springs Food Pantry running week after week. Whether she's receiving our dairy delivery on Tuesday mornings, packing bags for recipient deliveries, or lending a hand wherever it's needed, Deanna is always there with a smile and a willingness to help.
A lifelong Springs resident and proud 12th-generation Bonacker, Deanna brings a deep love for her community to everything she does. We recently sat down with her to learn more about her volunteer journey, her family's long history in Springs, and what keeps her coming back each week.
"The Springs Food Pantry means generosity. The volunteers are generous with their time and energy. The farmers are generous with their produce. The community is generous with its support. And the Pantry is generous to the recipients." — Deanna Tikkanen
How long have you been volunteering with Springs Food Pantry, and what first brought you here?
I've been volunteering with the Pantry every week since 2016. Before that, I filled in whenever I was needed.
What inspired you to get involved, and what keeps you coming back each week?
The Food Pantry needed help, and I was available. I grew up in a home where my parents volunteered in the community, so giving back has always been part of who I am. The Pantry gives me a sense of purpose.
What volunteer roles do you typically help with at the Pantry? Do you have a favorite?
I receive and store our weekly dairy delivery, and I also help pack the recipient deliveries. I enjoy knowing that everything is organized and ready before distribution begins.
What's one thing you've learned from volunteering at the Pantry that surprised you?
The diversity of both our recipients and our volunteers.
Can you share a favorite Pantry memory or moment that has stayed with you?
Two moments have stayed with me.
The first was during COVID, when a father rode his bicycle to the Pantry to pick up food for his family of six. He and his wife had both lost their jobs, and they had also lost their car. There was simply no way he could carry enough food home on his bike, so we added the family to our delivery route. After both parents returned to work, they no longer needed the Pantry. One evening he came back just to say thank you, with tears in his eyes. It was a reminder that the Pantry truly changes lives.
The second was a recipient who came in with a $5 donation. He apologized that it wasn't more, but wanted us to know how much his family appreciated the help they'd received. That generosity has stayed with me. We also have former and current recipients who give back by volunteering.
What do you wish more people understood about food insecurity on the East End?
The East End is one of the most expensive places to live. Our community depends on carpenters, landscapers, house cleaners, restaurant workers, farm workers, and so many others. Rising housing costs, expensive rentals, increasing food prices, and the cost of medicine mean many working families need two or three jobs just to make ends meet.
The Pantry doesn't provide a full week's worth of groceries. We provide enough healthy food to supplement what families are able to purchase themselves, helping them bridge that gap.
Tell us a little about yourself outside the Pantry.
Springs is home. I'm a 12th-generation Bonacker, and except for my college years, I've lived here my entire life. My husband commuted to Grumman in Calverton throughout his career, and we've always been proud to call Springs home.
I enjoy quilting, gardening, reading, and traveling.
Do you volunteer with any other organizations or causes in our community?
I'm a Deacon at the Springs Community Presbyterian Church. I'm also a past President of the Springs Historical Society and Springs Community Library, and I currently serve on the Historical Society's Arts & Archives Committee and volunteer in the historic Parsons Blacksmith Shop.
If you're a history buff, you might be interested to know that the Springs Historical Society, founded in 1975, preserves and celebrates the rich history of our hamlet. The Society oversees the Ambrose Parsons House, originally built in the 1770s, which today serves as the Springs Community Library and houses an extensive collection of photographs, historical records, and books about Springs and its people. The Society also maintains the historic Parsons Blacksmith Shop, home to monthly demonstrations where visitors can experience the traditional craft that once served our farming community.
Throughout the year, the Historical Society hosts art exhibits, educational programs, and community events, including the annual Arts & Archives Show and SpringsFest, all made possible by dedicated volunteers. Along with the Springs Community Presbyterian Church and Ashawagh Hall, these historic buildings form the Heart of Springs, a volunteer-led effort to preserve and celebrate the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of our community.
Oh, and by the way... the beautiful sanctuary at the Springs Community Presbyterian Church was built in 1882 for just $1,900. It's one of my favorite reminders of how generations of Springs residents have come together to build and care for this community.
I'm especially proud to help preserve these stories and traditions for future generations. Like the Food Pantry, these organizations are built on neighbors helping neighbors and ensuring that what makes Springs special is never forgotten.
What do you do (or did you do) professionally? Or, tell us about another role or experience that's been especially meaningful in your life. What did you enjoy most about it?
I retired in 2018 after my brothers and I owned and operated C.E. King & Sons, Inc., our family's custom canvas awning and marine canvas business, following our father's retirement. The business originally operated from School Street, with the office in our family home.
Growing up in a family business taught us responsibility from an early age. We answered phones, took messages, and learned the importance of serving customers and supporting employees. Even then, housing affordability was a challenge for many of the people who worked with us.
Today, my nephews proudly continue the family business.
Is there a memorable story, achievement, or unexpected experience from your work or life that you'd be willing to share?
Working in a family business taught me that every customer has a story and every employee has a family depending on them. Looking back, I realize many of the challenges we see today, especially the lack of affordable housing, were already affecting working families decades ago.
What might surprise people about you?
There are no surprises. What you see is what you get!
If someone was thinking about volunteering with Springs Food Pantry, what would you tell them?
Volunteers are always needed. There are jobs for everyone, from light work to heavy lifting. Maybe you can't help every week, but whatever time you can give makes a difference.
The rewards are far greater than the work.
In just a few words, what does Springs Food Pantry mean to you?
The Springs Food Pantry means generosity. The volunteers are generous with their time and energy. The farmers are generous with their produce. The community is generous with its support. And the Pantry is generous to the recipients.
⚡ Lightning Round
☕ Coffee or tea? Coffee... and dark chocolate!
🌅 Favorite thing about Springs? It's home.
🥕 Favorite Pantry item? Fresh produce.
🌽 Favorite local restaurant, farm, or East End spot? The beach at sunrise.
💙 One word that describes Springs Food Pantry? Generous.
😊 One thing that always makes you smile? Family and friends.
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