JUDA — Jeannie Blumer, a member of the group that founded the Green Cares Food Pantry in 2009, was recognized for her volunteer efforts with the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) Partner of the Year award on Thursday, Nov. 10. 

“It’s very humbling, but the award really needs to go to all the staff at the seven schools that are providing additional food security services to our kids that are in need,” Blumer said. “My role, I feel, is pretty insignificant compared to what all the schools are doing. I don’t do this for any recognition. I do it because it’s important work to do. As I’m getting later on in my life, it’s more important for me to be an example than anything else.”

Blumer was nominated for the Rural Community Partner of the Year on behalf of the Juda, Monticello, Albany, Black Hawk, New Glarus, Brodhead and Pecatonica school districts.

Blumer worked for the Green County Human Services from November 1980 to June 2013 in the Economic Support Unit and supervised the unit from January 2000 June 2013.

She collaborated with the Monticello community to form the Green Cares Food Pantry in August 2009 and has volunteered there since. Through these efforts, the Monticello Pony Pack Program started as a pilot project in March 2018. The aim was to provide food to Monticello students in need, no questions asked with no cost to the school district, parents or students. 

Due to the success of the program, similar programs were developed in Albany, Black Hawk, Juda and New Glarus. These programs partner with Southwest Community Action Program (SWCAP) and Second Harvest Food Bank. Blumer has served on the SWCAP board for a combined 14 years before retiring in June 2022. 

“Jeannie has been so valuable to our food program in Pecatonica area schools,” Pecatonica school board member Jill Gaskell said. “She has helped us feed kids and their families over weekends and longer breaks from school when the school lunches were not available.”

When Blumer is not taking care of students in Green County, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, gardening and baking.