Pat and her husband have been coming Up North to Longville since 1978 when they bought their first cabin on Wabedo. Every Friday evening, they drove up and every Sunday afternoon they drove back to the cities. In 1994, Pat’s husband moved here permanently and Pat followed in 2000. Pat is a huge Longville Booster and has been involved in the Longville Chamber Board, Lions, Blood Drives, Turtle races, Longville Lakes Arts Alliance, Airport Advisory Committee, Chamber Activity Committee, and now the Food Shelf. “I have followed the evolution of the Food Shelf and am so proud of what it has become. I am privileged now to join the Board.”

Deb Halver has loved the Longville area since 1985, when she and her husband, Dave, began spending summers here with his family. In 2019, they both retired and made Longville their permanent home. Deb spent 34 years teaching high school math in the Duluth Public School District. She is a proud mom of two grown children and grandma to two wonderful grandchildren.

She enjoys volunteering at the Food Shelf and at Tossed and Found, where she loves giving back to the community that has become such an important part of her life. Serving on the Food Shelf Board of Directors is another way Deb is grateful to support her neighbors and help strengthen the Longville community.

Patti Abbott and her husband Bill moved to the Longville area in 2007. Since moving here, Patti has become involved in multiple community groups including the Longville Area Food Shelf, VFW Post 772 Auxiliary, Longville Lakes Area Snowmobile Club, Longville Lakes Lion’s Club, and the Loving Hands Quilting Club. She and Bill enjoy fishing, trap shooting, bird hunting with their dog Kate, snowmobiling, and playing cards.

My name is Debra Baker. I’m a Minnesota native, returning to the Remer area after a 30-year military career. My roots are deep in Northern Minnesota. I graduated from Bemidji State University and have a family cabin and property in the Hackensack area. My background education in Human Ecology has afforded me knowledge of community assistance and health programs. I am an active member of the Remer community garden that has donated thousands of pounds of fresh garden produce to multiple food shelves in the area. I also participate in the Longville Loving Hands quilt club and am a member of the local VFW.

“I’ve been coming to the Longville area on weekends since 1993. We moved here in 2010. I worked for the Northland Area Family Center and have been a board member for several years. I love working with the preschool kids and helping with Toys for Kids. In November 2020, I started working at the food shelf. Helping with all the changes the food shelf has gone through in the last two years has been really rewarding. It’s great to know we’re there to help people out when they need it.”

“I am currently serving as President and CEO for Camp Olson YMCA located in Longville Minnesota. I have had the privilege of being a servant leader with the YMCA movement for over 35 years where I have worked as an Executive Director, VP of Operations and CEO in Texas, Florida and Tennessee. I am happy to say that I am now a member of the Longville community and look forward to many years of serving as Camp Olson’ CEO. I look forward to finding ways to support our community by volunteering in areas that help strengthen our amazing town of Longville.”

Bob grew up in North Minneapolis, and after serving in the US Air Force, he married his wife, Diane. Together they raised two sons, during which time he was active as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, and youth sports coach. Bob worked as an electrician for 30 years before retiring in 2011. He has been coming “up-north” for more than 50 years. In 2013, Bob and Diane purchased property on the lake his great aunt had a resort on in Longville. They built their home in 2018. Bob has served in many volunteer roles. In his church, he has served as a church Elder, on the pastor search committee, and chaperoning multiple church mission trips for teens. He served 10 years as a Master Gardener (currently emeritus) and was involved in school yard garden projects at Lino Lakes Youth Correctional Facility. In 2017, he joined the American Red Cross and responded to fire disasters and was deployed to Hurricane Ian relief efforts. Bob is currently serving with the Backus Lions, and he has volunteered at the Longville Food Shelf since 2020. Bob’s hobbies include wood working, hunting, fishing, and going to the BWCA.

“Although we lived in Hastings, MN for many years, our vacation cabin became our home two years ago when my wife Rachel was hired to teach at a local school. I’m a retired lawyer so I was free to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the peace and beauty here on a full-time basis. I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and participating in my community including spending many years as a youth baseball coach and boy scout leader. I’ve also served on a number of boards including the Hastings Historical Preservation Commission, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Board, Hastings Prescott Arts Council and Black Dirt Community Theater. Since moving to the Longville area, I’ve enjoyed volunteering at Tossed and Found and believe strongly in our mission and the positive impact that the food shelf has on the lives of so many. I am honored to serve on the board of such a valuable community resource.”

“I was born and raised in South Minneapolis. After graduation from high school, I started moving north. First to Monticello then to Princeton. In 2007, my husband and I vacationed in the area and fell in love with the peacefulness and beauty! We spent time on Leech Lake until 2011 when we purchased land on Girl Lake. In 2015, we moved up here full-time. I have a background in accounting and worked temporarily for United Way and fell in love with the non-profit sector. My husband and I love to fish, catch a movie at the theater, and spend time with our 5 children and 10 grandchildren. I went to work for the Food Shelf and Tossed & Found in January 2020. I love the mission and all the good things we are doing for our neighbors that need a little helping hand.”