In Ripley, Ohio, access to fresh food is limited. A few dollar stores and gas stations offer basic items, but there is no full grocery store, and for many residents living on fixed or limited incomes, transportation to larger towns is out of reach. The need for reliable food access is constant and deeply felt.
That’s why, in 2016, when Pastor Jim Settles of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was asked to identify a community leader to help launch Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio’s new Food for All pantry, he immediately thought of Candye Dudley. Known for her compassion and steady presence, Candye stepped into the role without hesitation.
“We set it up like a little grocery store. People would roll through to figure out what they wanted,” she recalls. It is so important for “filling a need.”
Through volunteers like Candye, the Food for All program brings fresh, healthy food to communities across Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Highland Counties, places where affordable groceries are scarce. The program also provides PowerPack weekend meals to low-income students in inner-city schools, ensuring children have nutritious food when school cafeterias
are closed.
Candye’s service quickly became a family calling. Her daughter, Amber, and granddaughter, Niya, joined her in volunteering, creating a three-generation ministry of compassion.
“I’m really impressed with them following me. It makes me feel good that they know the value of volunteering. They know how important it is to offer more of yourself,” Candye says.
For Niya, now the pastor at Beebe Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Ripley, serving alongside her mother and grandmother is both joyful and deeply rooted in her faith. “The volunteer work means everything to me. It’s like the Bible says about helping those who are widows and orphans. So being able to be a part of this is a great thing.”
Candye says one of the greatest blessings of her work is reconnecting with neighbors she might not otherwise see. In a town with few gathering places, the pantry has become a point of fellowship and community.
“I’ve met so many good people, not only if they’re coming to get the service, but also working with people. It’s just good fellowship,” she says. The experience, she adds, is “complete enjoyment.”
Niya feels the same, and she sees firsthand how great the need remains. “All of these people who are coming through the drive thru makes it obvious that there’s a lot more work for us to do as believers.”
In that spirit, she encourages others to get involved, spread the word, and help ensure that families in Ripley and beyond continue to receive the nourishment and hope that they deserve.