A Legacy of Service: How One Family’s Generosity Is Strengthening the Future of the River Falls Community Food Pantry
- maustreng
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
For as long as she can remember, Jeanette Juetten has lived by a simple truth: if you can help, you do. Guided by a servant’s heart, this belief led her family to create an endowment with the St. Croix Valley Foundation to permanently support the River Falls Community Food Pantry.
She grew up watching her parents give quietly and faithfully—never seeking attention, always meeting needs in their community and beyond.
Her mother, especially, had what Jeanette calls a “covert generosity”—thoughtful gifts, anonymous support, and a belief that abundance is meant to be shared. When her mother passed away in August 2025 after a second battle with cancer, Jeanette inherited both resources and a desire to honor a lifetime of quiet giving.
“As I reflected on my mom’s values,” Jeanette shared, “I kept coming back to the idea of service. It’s who she was. And it’s who she taught me to be.”
A Family Shaped by Serving
Jeanette connected with the River Falls Community Food Pantry soon after moving there. She volunteered in 2016, joined the Board of Directors in 2017, and served a full six-year term through 2022 during the pantry's growth and transformation.
In 2018, the pantry was still running out of a small, rented space. As rent increased and needs expanded, Jeanette helped lead the effort to identify a new location—visiting sites, listening to clients, and collaborating with experienced professionals in finance, design, and operations. This led to the purchase of land on St. Croix Street and the building's opening to clients in late 2019.
At the same time, Jeanette also led initiatives to modernize the pantry’s brand and communications, including updating the logo and website.
Service became a family commitment. Jeanette’s daughter Jenna and her Girl Scout troop earned their service bar by stocking pantry shelves every other Sunday for a school year during middle school. That experience, along with a mission trip at a homeless shelter where she saw food insecurity firsthand, deepened Jenna’s passion for the pantry’s work.
A Moment of Crisis—and a Turning Point
In 2024, rising operating costs, cuts to expected grant funding, and increased demand placed unprecedented strain on the pantry’s finances. In September, the general operating account reached its lowest level ever, requiring the Board to cover day-to-day expenses.
Recognizing the urgency, the Board began contingency planning in early 2025 and invited the St. Croix Valley Foundation to the conversation to explore options for long-term financial stability, including establishing an endowment to weather uncertainty and protect the pantry’s future.
“Food insecurity changes people,” Jeanette reflected. “When someone doesn’t know where their next meal will come from, everything else feels heavier.”
At the same time, Jeanette was caring for her mother during her final months, a season that sharpened her focus on love, legacy, stewardship, and how her family could best serve the community while ensuring the pantry’s future.
Creating the River Falls Community Food Pantry Endowed Fund
The idea of an endowment stayed with Jeanette. In October, she met with Heather Logelin, President and CEO of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, to explore options for establishing an endowed fund. These discussions clarified how an endowment could support annual operations and ensure long-term resilience.
With a sense of both purpose and peace, Jeanette and her husband, Don, took the step of establishing the River Falls Community Food Pantry Endowed Fund. Their gift transformed an inheritance from her parents into a lasting expression of shared values: helping neighbors, strengthening the community, and ensuring consistent support for those facing food insecurity.
“It just felt right,” Jeanette said. “It felt like continuing what they began—and I think they would approve.”
Voices from the Pantry
Jeanette’s gift is already having an impact, as seen by those close to the pantry.
Candice Andersen, the Executive Director, refers to it as a “Forever Fund” and describes it as a remarkable safety net. “This gift is a commitment that the pantry will exist in the future—bringing hope to community members and encouraging others to support the mission. Jeanette’s vision shows that generosity can have a lasting impact, and that anyone can be part of it.”
Longtime food coordinator Ron Bjork, who worked alongside Jeanette on the new building and operations, admires the way she leads thoughtfully, confidently, and with the pantry’s long-term health in mind.
“When she speaks, you want to listen. She isn’t afraid to say maybe we need to look at this from a different angle,” Ron said.
Together, their words show how the endowment is strengthening the pantry, a true testament to Jeanette’s dedication and the vibrant community spirit that keeps River Falls thriving.
Opening the Door for Others
One of the strongest features of this endowment is that anyone can contribute. Once an endowment fund is set up, community members can donate any amount at any time.
Jeanette pointed out, “Although everyone might not have the resources to start an endowment fund, anyone can still make a meaningful contribution to one.”
For donors, the pantry, and the community, this creates a path toward long-term stability.
A Legacy Rooted in the Valley
This endowment fund is more than just a financial gift. It’s a family story—a continuation of values handed down through generations. Jeantte’s daughter, Jenna, now in high school, carries on this legacy.
Candice Andersen notes, “Just as meaningful is the way Jeanette’s values are taking root across generations. Her daughter’s involvement with the pantry—now as a junior board member and secretary—brings new perspectives and energy, helping the pantry connect with younger audiences and stay responsive to a changing community.”
An Invitation to the Community
Jeanette hopes others will see themselves in her story. “People think generosity has to be big or complicated,” she said. “But it doesn’t. You can begin with something small.”
Still, she carries a hopeful long-term vision. “My very lofty, maybe-even-secret goal,” she shared, “is to see this fund grow to $5 million!”
She’s quick to add that costs will continue to rise and that annual giving will always be essential. “Just imagine the peace of knowing the pantry is always funded, always stocked, and always here for our community—forever!”
Now that the River Falls Community Food Pantry Endowed Fund is established, the River Falls community has a new way to support the pantry’s mission: give what you can, when you can, and be part of something that lasts. While everyday gifts remain vital to keep shelves stocked and programs running, contributions to the endowment offer a special opportunity—helping ensure the pantry can serve neighbors not only today but for generations to come.
A strong community grows through acts of service, one at a time. This endowment fund represents one family’s act—founded on gratitude, shaped by loss, fueled by faith, and open for others to join.
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