Among the many unsung community heroes are volunteers who help care for their most vulnerable neighbors, without expecting any recognition or compensation. One such volunteer, who helps supply and staff the Wright City Community Food Pantry, is our latest Hidden Hero.

Volunteer Alice Windmann spends multiple days each week at the food pantry, helping to manage logistics, stocking and organization. Windmann’s background is in retail and inventory management, and although she isn’t the face of the food pantry for most clients, she said it’s her goal to provide them with a dignified environment where they don’t have to feel embarrassed to ask for help.

Windmann’s volunteer efforts were highlighted by a community member who nominated her to be recognized as a Hidden Hero. Here’s what Windmann’s nominator had to say:

“Alice is the volunteer that keeps the Wright City Community Food Pantry running smoothly. ... Alice is the dream machine with an intuitive nature for pantry organization, client individual needs, and stocks the pantry with unique needs such as chicken feed, winter coats, and special treats for the kids. Her amazing volunteer service makes it possible ... (to keep) pantry donations focused on the pantry’s mission of feeding the community.”

Windmann is a native of Lincoln County, but moved to New Jersey over 40 years ago. She returned to the area in 2020. Even after decades away, Windmann said the people of Wright City warmly welcomed her with a sense of community that moves her to share her time and efforts with those around her.

“This isn’t about me. This is about everybody else. This is really about what everybody has given me ... as a newer or returning member of this community,” Windmann said. “It was that sense of community that drew me into the pantry. It’s a different culture than I had been used to.

“The volunteers here ... have so much love to give, and so much passion for the community, that it’s kind of hard not to get involved,” Windmann added. She commented that she first came to the pantry to help a family member who was volunteering there, but quickly saw the good being done and wanted to be a bigger part of it.

When Windmann described her work, she said she’s grateful to be given the opportunity to serve other people in her community. She encourages other people who have thought about volunteering to make time and find someplace to get involved.

“Go for it. Try it. If it’s not the right fit for you, there’s no shame or ill will to try it and then say ‘This isn’t quite what I want to do.’ But you’ll never know until you do,” Windmann said. “I didn’t think I was going to be as involved as I am. There’s so many great things out there, that when you let yourself go, you get so much more back than what you’re giving.”

Windmann added that she’s excited for the Wright City Community Food Pantry to launch a new partnership on Sept. 27, when local volunteers will be partnering for the first time with St. Louis Food Bank to run a pop-up food distribution at the Wright City Lions Club.

The Warren County Record and our community partners will celebrate a new Hidden Hero each month. Hidden Heroes are people who quietly work to make their communities a better place, without expectation of recognition or reward.

Hidden Heroes are identified through public nominations. If you know someone who deserves their own superhero cape, submit a nomination at warrencountyrecord.com/hiddenhero.