Volunteer Spotlight: Familiar Faces in the Community 🤝🧡

We were thrilled to see several members of our Springs Food Pantry volunteer family recently featured in 27East / Express Magazine — and even more thrilled to celebrate the incredible impact they’ve had on our Pantry community.

🐝 Dahlia and Athena Ascher-Walsch were spotlighted for their growing honey business, “Dahlia and Athena’s Heavenly Hive."

👉 From Muffins to Honey: How Two Springs Sisters Grew a Beloved Farm Stand Into a Booming Business

Athena & Dahlia Ascher-Walsch, courtesy 27East

The Pantry has been lucky to watch Athena and Dahlia grow from young volunteers helping alongside their mom before the pandemic into two of our most dependable and familiar faces. Over the years, they’ve packed bags, sorted fruit, stocked shelves, become our famous “rice baggers,” and eventually taken on carry-out duties during distribution.

As Holly Reichart-Wheaton shared:

“No matter the job, Athena and Dahlia were always ready to help — with a smile, a hug, and a kindness that lifted everyone around them.”

🌱 Deanna Tikkanen was also recently featured in Express Magazine for her role as President of the Springs Historical Society and her genealogical research for the upcoming exhibit, “Springs: The Early Days.”

👉 The Heart of Springs: Preserving the Institutions That Hold a Community Together

Deanna Tikkanen

Since retiring, Deanna has become an incredibly dedicated and dependable volunteer at the Pantry. Every Tuesday morning, she receives our fresh dairy and egg deliveries, and on distribution days she carefully prepares bags for recipient deliveries. On alternate Monday's, Deanna can be found prepping our "C" bags for the largest families and counting and setting up bags for the Tuesday crew. She’s also a familiar face on Wednesday mornings, often bagging crates upon crates of fresh lettuce, spinach, and vegetables donated by our local farms.

Beyond her weekly volunteer work, Deanna is always willing to jump in wherever needed — including supporting our fundraising events throughout the year.

As Holly Reichart-Wheaton notes:

“Deanna is true Bonac stock — dependable, hardworking, generous, and always ready to help however she can.”

We are endlessly grateful for volunteers like Athena, Dahlia, and Deanna, whose generosity, reliability, and spirit help make Springs Food Pantry the caring community it is today.