The spirit of giving: Avoca woman collects donations for area food pantries

AVOCA — What began as a simple Christmas list has turned into a growing community tradition for an Avoca woman. Four years ago, when asked to write down what she wanted for Christmas, Paige Heller decided instead to create “Paige’s Pantry Project,” a holiday food drive benefiting pantries in Avoca, Walnut and Harlan.
“I wanted to do something nice — a worthy goal,” Paige said. “I thought this could be my Christmas wish to the community.”
The project launched in 2022 with donation boxes placed at the Avoca Public Library, where Paige is employed,  and at her mother, Stephanie’s, workplace. The family created flyers, promoted the effort on social media and held a meet-and-greet events during local holiday celebrations to help explain the mission behind the collection.
That first year, the drive brought in about 1,200 items. Since then, the effort has expanded steadily. Donation boxes are now placed through out Avoca, at the library, Dollar General and Foodland, and Paige, who is now 21 years old, checks them every other day throughout November and early December. The project accepts nonperishable food, hygiene items and monetary donations, which are used to buy items pantries say they need most.
“We ask the pantry people what they’re short on, and then we just shop,” Paige said. “It’s fun.”
Donations vary from year to year, but the family estimates that roughly 3,000 items have been collected over the last three seasons combined. Usually donations are accepted during Avoca’s Holiday on Main. The winter storm Thanksgiving weekend forced the event to be cancelled, so Paige has increased the duration of accepting donations through December 13. 
While the family has experimented with weekly or biweekly drop-offs, they are considering delivering all collected and purchased items at once this year.  “The dining room isn’t chaos yet — not quite,” Stephanie joked.
For Paige, the motivation remains simple— it’s a way to help others.
“I feel fulfilled and overjoyed,” she said. “Even a small donation brings a smile to my face.”
“Thank you, people of Iowa, for donating to the pantries. I hope you have happy holidays and a wonderful year.”
Photos clockwise: Paige Heller with some donated items for area foot pantries; Paige with purchases made from last year’s donations to Paige’s Pantry Project; and monetary donations are accepted for this year’s food drive. (photos contributed)