Boyne Valley Food Pantry
There, we connected with Executive Director Jim Groh and his right-hand partner, Diane Gillespie—affectionately dubbed “the brains of the operation.” As they moved through last-minute preparations ahead of their noon opening, they shared a story neither of them expected. Neither Jim nor Diane started at the pantry expecting to stay long-term, but over time, that’s exactly what happened. What began as a short-term commitment gradually grew into something much bigger, keeping them rooted in the pantry and the community it serves.








