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Former Upper Iowa University graduate is still passionate about helping those in need

Fayette (March 9, 2006)—The Fayette County Food Shelf in Fayette, Iowa distributed 73,962 lbs. of food and helped 1,324 individuals in 2005. Founded in 1988 by State Representative Roger Thomas’ mother, Gladys, it provides short-term emergency food relief to persons living in Fayette County, including clothing and household items and operates primarily on donations.

When Abby (Keppler) Cline recently offered the $400 prize money she won while a student at Upper Iowa University (UIU) to the Fayette County Food Shelf (FCFS) in Fayette, Iowa as seed money for its new building, FCFS Coordinator Karen Martin was not surprised. “We call Abby the Food Shelf Angel,” says Martin. “She saw our need and was determined to fill it.”

Although Abby graduated from UIU in 2004, she planted a seed within the Fayette community that still flourishes today. It all started when Abby worked for UIU’s Physical Plant as a summer intern and noticed a huge amount of belongings being discarded by students -- things like refrigerators, stereos, bedding, couches, chairs, and clothing. According to Abby, “Since most kids had to fly home for the summer, anything that didn’t fit into two suitcases was thrown away.”

As a result, Abby was determined to find a way to get students to donate their castoffs to charity instead. The next fall, she and fellow UIU student Angie (Miller) Lund got together with the FCFS and put together a program. For every item students donated to FCFS, they would receive points for prizes. Martin helped the two establish the value of the arbitrary points. “Refrigerators, for example, might be 150 points because we can’t keep them in stock,” explains Martin. “Shoes or socks, on the other hand, were given a lower value of maybe 20 points.” Even the prizes were solicited by Abby and Angie and ultimately donated by area retailers.

Their program was so successful that the donations not only filled the FCFS building to capacity but the overflow filled a rental home Martin owns. The $400 prize money came about when Abby and Angie, both members of UIU’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), presented their idea to the PBL State Conference that year and won first place. The two advanced to the PBL Nationals in Orlando, Florida, where they walked away with a second-place trophy and the $400 prize money. When asked who took first place, Abby comments, “A local college organized a hurricane disaster relief project that year, and that’s pretty hard to top.” However, Abby did say one of the judges was so impressed about their project that she asked how do I bring this to my school?

Martin hopes the new FCFS building will be completed in 2007 as they have outgrown their current location on 7th Street in Fayette. The estimated cost of the new building will run approximately $225,000 to be paid for by grants and donations. Martin explains there is no other place to rent in Fayette, which is where they would like to stay, that will give them enough room. “Our business has grown by 300 percent,” states Martin. “Fayette is not only centrally located, but the college kids help us immensely, as volunteers and throughcollecting donations. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

Abby and Martin are enthusiastic about working together to make the new building a reality. Anyone who wants more information about the Fayette County Food Shelf or would like to make a contribution, can call 563-425-3399 on Monday or Wednesday from Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private university providing educational excellence and leadership development to approximately 6,000 students -- both nationally and internationally -- at our traditional campus in picturesque Fayette, Iowa; through our various Online degree programs; at our U. S. Centers; via Correspondence courses, and at our International centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vancouver, Canada. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in the delivery of quality education, and is also proud of its diverse range of student populations and progressive flexible options for traditional and non-traditional students of all ages. To learn more about Upper Iowa University, its degree programs, locations, and renowned scholars, please visit us at www.uiu.edu.

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Upper Iowa University
Public Relations
Sheila Miller, Director
563-425-5326
millers@uiu.edu

Upper Iowa University
Public Relations
P.O. Box 1859
Fayette, IA 52142-1859