Bethel Buttik of Westby hosted a volunteer appreciation supper May 4. (Contributed photo)
More than 85 volunteers and guests attended the Bethel Butikk volunteer appreciation supper hosted by Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church Women on May 4.
Bethel Home and Services Chief Executive Officer Debra Stout Tewalt welcomed everyone, thanking the volunteers for work they do for the community through Bethel Butikk. Volunteers come from Westby, Viroqua, Coon Valley, La Crosse, Ontario, Cashton, Chaseburg, Soldiers Grove and La Farge.
Bethel Home and Services has provided the building at 341 Black River Ave. in Westby for the food pantry and thrift shop since 2004. Proceeds of the thrift shop and donations go to purchase supplies for the food pantry and to provide mission support to families in surrounding communities throughout the year and at Christmas.
Pastor Gary Daines thanked the volunteers for serving the community over the past year, saying, “Bethel Butikk is a unique project offering the best recycling program along with providing food pantry and mission distributions with an entirely volunteer staff. It is one of the best in the country and has been used as a model for other communities to follow.”
Last year, volunteers served 11,847 people with a total value of $380,000 in groceries, milk, dairy products, meat and fresh vegetables. In addition, volunteers handed out toys, clothing, gifts and other items to 1,307 people for Christmas. Distributions are also made weekly for assistance with rent, utilities, heat, automobile repairs, medical assistance, gas vouchers and emergency flood assistance for a total of $113,535.
The volunteer appreciation event included piano musical entertainment by Peter Engh. Annette Easterday and JoAnn Hoven distributed door prizes.
Anyone interested in volunteering may contact volunteer coordinator Kathy Griffin at 634-3473. Volunteers sort donations of clothing and household items, clean, arrange displays and stock food pantry shelves.
Other volunteers work in sales and food pantry distributions weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the food pantry and thrift shop are open, and until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and the first Saturday morning of the month.
