The passion of the Midwest Food Bank employees and volunteers is contagious. Just ask Jan Murphy, a Midwest Food Bank Share Partner (a donor offering a regularly scheduled contribution). She is the former Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. In 2018, ISU President, Larry Dietz, encouraged his senior staff to learn more about MFB and try volunteering.
“I was blown away by the scope of MFB and the support provided on a national and international level,” says Jan. In 2019, she had the opportunity to travel with MFB and ISU to Kenya, Africa, for a 10-day visit to Midwest Food Bank East Africa (Kapu Africa) and see the ministries they serve. Jan calls it a life-changing experience. “I have never been associated with a more passionate and committed group than those who have dedicated their lives to MFB and Kapu Africa,” she says.
Everyone Jan has interacted with at MFB and Kapu Africa is guided to serve those in need by their faith in God. The enthusiasm of the employees and volunteers is affirming.
Now retired, Jan enjoys running, reading, traveling, and has recently taken up knitting. She and her husband live in Bloomington, IL, with their spoiled rescue cat, Bear. The Murphys have two adult children, Myles, in Chicago, and Maggie, in St. Louis.
“I have no doubt the staff and volunteers of MFB and Kapu Africa save lives every day,” says Jan. “It was moving to meet children in orphanages who have no other food except what they receive through MFB.”
Click here to see how you can impact the lives of others by being a Share Partner.
