Shining in our September Volunteer Spotlight: Anita Deal!

Anita Deal is one of those volunteers who comes to mind almost immediately when you think of Ashure Ministry. She has been volunteering for many years, and what started as a one-week volunteer experience after her retirement turned into a lasting calling. 

 Today, Anita volunteers two days a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays. She does a little bit of everything around the food pantry, but her heart is at the client door. 

When clients arrive, Anita collects their food cards, takes them inside, gathers their groceries, and then brings a cart full of food out to the clients waiting in their cars. She loves seeing the smiles that appear when clients see their cart coming toward them. She loves talking with them, hearing their stories, and making that small moment of receiving food feel personal and welcoming. 

After so many years, Anita has become a familiar and comforting face to countless clients. Many think she is part of the staff, and some even ask about her when she isn’t there. They also look forward to seeing what kind of outfit she’ll be wearing as the holidays approach! 

And Anita doesn’t just serve on her own. She even managed to recruit her husband, Junior, who drove the Ashure Ministry grocery van for year. 

Anita’s impact extends far beyond the food pantry doors. She recently completed a term on our Board of Directors and remains very active in getting her church involved in Ashure Ministry events, including the March Madness Challenge and the Catawba County Hunger Walk. 

Anita loves to compete, but even more, she loves to give. Every year, she rallies First Methodist Church, Conover, behind her for the Hunger Walk, helping make them one of the top church teams year after year. So, if your church wants to take the top spot from FMC-C this year, you’re going to have to work extra hard to rally your own "Anitas"! 

For Anita, Ashure Ministry is more than a place to volunteer. It is a place where she feels she belongs. Over the years, she has built relationships with volunteers, staff, clients, and countless others who have become part of her life. She has hundreds of stories and memories from her years here. (Although, don’t ask her about the Prune Lady.) 

Most of all, Anita feels called to be here. She believes Ashure Ministry is where God wants her, and she has made serving here a meaningful part of her life. Even when she isn’t volunteering, she is talking to people in the community about Ashure Ministry, sharing what we do and encouraging others to get involved. 

It’s because of this dedication, this generous spirit, and so much more that Anita was named the 2022 Charlie Bunn Volunteer of the Year. 

Anita, you deserved that award then, and you deserve so much more now. Ashure Ministry is better because you are here. Thank you for the countless hours, the laughter, the stories, the encouragement, the advocacy, and the heart you bring through our doors. 

You truly are the Queen of our volunteers. Thank you, Anita, for everything you do for Ashure Ministry and the community we serve!