Submitted
Madeline Reiff, a freshman at Options Charter School of Noblesville, has earned the President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award. It is a prestigious national award that recognizes middle and high school youth who make meaningful and impactful volunteer contributions to their community.
Reiff won this award for two reasons: She has made significant contributions to the White River Christian Food Pantry by volunteering over 500 hours, and by serving the guests on Thursdays and by helping multiple days a week. Her contributions included sorting the breads, stacking the shelves, making up drink and snack bags, cleaning, breaking down cardboard, buying diapers, and being part of the outdoor team who served hundreds of people in cars each week. She is an overall team player who greets people with a smile on her face, compassion in her heart and the desire to serve her community.
Reiff also designed, illustrated and wrote a book called What Everyone Needs to Know, a book about the death of George Floyd. Her passion with animation allowed her to provide a profound perspective as a young African American girl. She provided a copy to the Noblesville Diversity Library located at City Hall, Options Charter School of Noblesville and New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fishers. Her book was given to Benjamin Crump, who then presented it to the family of George Floyd. Her book is powerfully written with expressive artwork to provide a voice of humanity.
Reiff has served at the White River Christian Church since she was eight years old. This is her seventh year of volunteering – or as she says, “Almost half of my life!”
She encourages other youth to engage in community service and not just for a class or for a project.
“Volunteering is something that you can do your whole life,” Reiff said. “It is fun, impactful and a meaningful way to bring joy to people. Thank you to the White River Christian Church Food Pantry to providing food weekly to the people in our community. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have taught me the value of working together, laughing and to develop a servant’s heart.”
The White River Christian Church Food pantry was started by Jeff and Kim DeMaise. Each week, Jeff and Kim work by engaging the volunteers, doing inventory control, ordering, stocking and assisting the volunteers to be the hands and feet of Jesus and being an outreach to the community. Starting as a small pantry from within a closet, this pantry now includes a building serving approximately 285 or more families a week. This translates to about 1,200 people each week or 4,800 people each month.
Guests are welcome to come from 1 to 6 p.m. every Thursday. The indoor model is in place from 1 to 5:30 p.m. where guests can come into the pantry and select foods, or guests may come in from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for a premade bag. Premade bags are also provided anytime between 1 and 6 p.m. There is also a gluten-free/allergy selection.
The food pantry is located at 1685 N. 10th St., Noblesville, in the cream-colored building just south of the church.
Thank you, Madeline and the volunteers for your dedicated service. White River Christian Church Food Pantry is currently in need of canned vegetables and can openers (so guests can access and open the canned goods). For more information about how you can volunteer or how to donate, please contact Jeff DeMaise at jdemaise@wrcc.org or call (317) 776-2848.
Learn more about the President’s Volunteer Service Award at presidentialserviceawards.gov.