WINGS Pantry Grows: Meet Pam and Judy

As WINGS Program, Inc. has expanded its housing programs and opened its Foglia Family Resource Center, more survivors need everyday household items and food to continue to break free from domestic violence.

In less than a year on the job, Pam Dagen and Judy Laut have been instrumental in the incredible growth of WINGS Pantry. Learn all the ways WINGS Pantry has grown and meet Judy and Pam!

How It Started…

From Left: Judy Laut and Pam Dagen.

Pam, WINGS In-Kind Program Distributions Supervisor, first heard about WINGS through her former neighbor, WINGS President & CEO, Rebecca Darr.

Reflecting on our journey to WINGS, Pam shares, “At the time, Rebecca & I were both raising young children and I was working in Early Childhood education. I became a WINGS Resale donor and shopper, as well as attending WINGS events. I looked forward to the Purple Tie Ball each year, especially hearing from WINGS graduates about the impact that WINGS has had on their lives.”

Pam continues, “When I decided to leave my job, my path led me to volunteering at WINGS and eventually working at WINGS Pantry. I recently celebrated my first anniversary with the organization, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of WINGS’ mission to help survivors of domestic violence.”

Judy, WINGS In-Kind Program Donations Supervisor, had a different path to finding her role at WINGS.

“I researched WINGS on ProPublica and saw where the organization’s revenue was being spent. I saw most of the money going to programs and services to survivors of domestic violence and that motivated me to want to work here,” Judy explains. WINGS also has top ratings on Charity Navigator and Candid.

How It’s Going…

Mother’s Day baskets being donated to WINGS Pantry.

“From the time I started just about a year ago, the clientele has increased dramatically,” Pam explains and elaborates, “We have added more housing units in the city, and we expanded services to include families that utilize our new Foglia Family Resource Center.”

Not only does this mean more food, household, and hygiene items are needed, but more baskets and gifts are needed seasonally. WINGS Pantry provides school supplies in the summer, Easter/Spring baskets, Mother’s Day/Father’s Day gifts, Thanksgiving turkeys with sides, winter coats and accessories, and a robust Holiday Store in early December.

“I work with day-to-day pantry operations, processing the donations that come in and sorting them based on where they can best serve the organization. WINGS Pantry donations are placed into our online inventory system,” Pam says. “This allows us to see which items are low in real-time and adjust our wish lists accordingly…”

“…We also try to keep a good supply of snacks and supplies on hand for the children’s program to use during counseling sessions, holiday parties throughout the year, and their annual summer picnic.” Pam adds.

She continues, “I support our programs by working with WINGS staff to identify client and program needs, so those items can quickly be directed their way when they are donated. It is important to us that program staff feel supported because we are all working towards WINGS mission.”

*Building Relationships

Food drive donated to WINGS Pantry.

Pam and Judy have both focused on building relationships with in-kind donors. Creating awareness of WINGS Pantry is a goal.

Pam shares, “We have found that many people aren’t aware that WINGS Pantry exists and how great the need is for supplies. Often, when they think of WINGS, they picture the emergency shelter and WINGS Resale stores, when there is so much more! Not only do we provide needed supplies to WINGS two Safe Houses, but also to clients residing in transitional housing units, permanent supportive housing, and community members receiving counseling services.”

Pam continues “Often clients come to WINGS with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In addition to food, WINGS Pantry stocks cleaning supplies, personal hygiene and infant care products, new bedding, towels, pillows, slippers, underwear, socks, pajamas, and more.”

*Partnerships

Some of the new partnerships Pam and Judy are excited about include:

• Share Our Spare: This organization provides baby gear, strollers, bassinets, clothing, and more. Judy shares, “We hope to continue to grow our relationship to receive diapers.”
• Avery’s Helpful Hair Kits: Started by Avery when she was 8 years old, this organization provides specialized haircare kits for textured curly hair to help people feel their best.

From left: Pam and Judy with donation from Avery’s Helpful Hair Kits.

“This partnership allows us to give survivors hair care products that work best with their hair type,” Judy explains. Survivors are often working to overcome emotional abuse, so receiving specialized hair products provides validation, dignity, and aids in increasing their self-confidence.

• Rust-Oleum: Introduced by a former graduate, Rust-Oleum has been very generous in donating cleaning products for WINGS clients.
• GiveNKind: This organization allows us to purchase items we need at only an administration cost.

“When we learned that children in our program weren’t being allowed to go out to recess without snow pants, we found that GiveNKind had a large donation of brand-new, North Face snow pants that we were able to buy for $4 each,” Judy shares.

*Being Resourceful

Mother’s Day basket ready for distribution.

Judy and Pam have also been collaborating with WINGS Resale to share resources. “We had received a generous donation of girl’s size 4T girls winter pajamas a few years ago – 100 more than we anticipated we could use in the next couple of years. We redirected the surplus to WINGS Resale to generate funds to go back into our programs…”

“…Likewise, WINGS Resale directs items we stock for clients our way,” Pam shares.

*Streamlining

“I want to make donations more accessible for donors and clients,” Judy shares. Judy has focused on streamlining and optimizing processes with technology.

Using a LinkTree to stay organized, Judy keeps WINGS Pantry Wishlists up to date on several retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Aldi, Dollar Tree, Jewel Osco, Meijer, and Kohls. Donors can order from WINGS Wishlists through retailers’ websites and even have the donation delivered directly to WINGS.

Judy has also created forms to express an interest in hosting a drive for needed items. What might have taken a handful of emails to explain the details and capture information can all be accomplished swiftly through an online form.

Judy has also worked on pulling reports of donors and their preferences to optimize results. She says, “There are donors who always order through Amazon or donate monthly. By collecting and analyzing that data, I can create specialized wish lists for these donors based on what they are interested in donating.”

*Meeting Clients Needs

Judy shows WINGS Pantry’s new feminine hygiene closet.

WINGS Pantry assists survivors by providing everyday essentials so they can focus on the process of healing.

WINGS Family Advocates meet with their clients and determine what supplies are needed each month using a Client Request Form. The request is submitted to the inventory system and Pam or a volunteer fills the order with supplies from WINGS Pantry. A converted house serves as WINGS Pantry’s office and miniature warehouse.

*Maximizing Space

“We use every nook and cranny,” Pam laughs. Every room has shelving to store items, including the shower in the bathroom.

Pam adds, “I love to organize and rethink spaces. When I started here, all the feminine hygiene products were in the basement. However, almost every order requested these items. To make them more accessible, we asked a volunteer to build shelves in an unused closet on the main floor.”

*Completing orders

Pam shows the Children’s Program Shelf stocked for counseling sessions and special programming.

Pam continues, “In addition to maximizing space, we also strategize how to best stretch resources to meet the needs of as many clients as possible. Rather than requesting big jugs of laundry detergent, we have switched to laundry pods or detergent sheets on our wish lists. These products make donations go further by being easier to transport and distribute in monthly allocations.”

“I put a lot of thought into order fulfillment,” Pam says. “If it is a larger family, I’ll pull a big carton of oatmeal for them. We have one client that requests Herbal Essence Shampoo. It is amazing when the survivors make those choices for themselves. When they share their preferences, we do our best to accommodate the request and personalize their order for them to feel heard and supported.”

Once an order is ready, clients with their own transportation schedule a time to pick up their order. For those without transportation, the advocate placing the order picks up and delivers it to them on their next visit.

*Evaluating Processes

WINGS Pantry set up for the winter coat drive distribution.

Pam and Judy have also been evaluating how clients request items and have continually updated the Client Request Form based on the donations they have in stock. “Now clients can request textured hair care products, sleep masks, hairbrushes, first aid kits, and more,” Pam says.

Judy shares, “One of my favorite parts of my job is giving clients what they want so they feel like they have some agency. For example, this year as we prepared for the Holiday Store, instead of sending over a mix of toys we had received, we asked WINGS Metro Safe House clients, ‘What kind of gifts would your kids be excited about?’ Why wouldn’t we want to share that on our Wishlists so they can receive what they want? We are here to serve them.”

*Graduates

Judy showcasing new purses and coats ready to be distributed to survivors.

Eligible WINGS graduates can receive extended services for up to three years following departure from the program. Pam welcomes them with a letter outlining their inclusion in holiday events throughout the year, access to as-needed pantry, and instructions to communicate their needs.

“One of my favorite memories is in my first week on staff at WINGS a donor showed up at the door of the pantry and disclosed that she was a former WINGS client. She said what a difference WINGS had made for her and donated toys to bring joy to children at the Safe House. WINGS really had made such an impact on her. It feels incredible to be a part of that kind of change,” Pam shares.

Judy continues, “We had another former client create and donate more than 50 care packages. Our clients really go on to do phenomenal things.”

The Best Part

Despite the challenges of limited space and fluctuating inventory levels, Pam and Judy receive a lot of satisfaction in their roles.

“My favorite part of my job is the clients and the change day-to-day. You never know what to expect. Week to week can look very different.” Pam shares and continues with a memorable moment from the coat drive,

WINGS Pantry set up for the annual coat drive distribution to survivors.

“I saw children with tears in their eyes saying, ‘I get to choose (my own coat)?’ Families left that day with coats, gloves, mittens, socks, and more. I later heard from an advocate that one little girl didn’t want to take her coat off even after she returned to her shared housing unit. Her mom told her, ‘I feel the same way about MY new coat, but we can’t keep it on all the time.’ They were so thankful to get high-quality, brand-new items to keep warm.”

“Sometimes seeing how our clients respond to essential items is heartbreaking. We will have given them canned goods and hygiene products, and they will give out a hug or cry tears of happiness,” Judy shares and continues,

“…And the energy from the groups that donate to us is so positive. Everyone is happy and people are getting what they need. People will say ‘Thank you so much for all you are doing’ and it truly is my pleasure.”

Click here to view our Wishlist or complete a donation drive form:

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Contact Bruna: EMAIL bsrb@wingsprogram.com | 847-519-7820, ext. 216