Gerald “Jerry” West, a philanthropist who performed a key position in founding the native charity Martha’s Pantry, died Tuesday of an an infection on the age of 84.
West was instrumental in founding and operating Martha’s Pantry within the Nineteen Eighties, a charity that helps individuals with HIV and AIDS with fundamental wants akin to meals, clothes, and hygiene merchandise. The Hazel Dell website of the non-profit group continues to be energetic immediately.
“Jerry was a lightweight. He was pleasant, ”mentioned Vicki Smith, Martha’s Pantry basic supervisor. “He cherished individuals and had a saint’s coronary heart.”
Martha’s Pantry grew out of a mission to the Metropolitan Group Church of the Mild Shepherd that started reaching affected communities on the top of the HIV / AIDS epidemic. Homosexual and queer individuals bore the brunt of the epidemic.
“Jerry was a homosexual man, and when the illness hit the group, it affected his pals. He actually misplaced lots of of individuals. He might depend them, ”mentioned Smith. “He simply needed to do one thing. His coronary heart would not let him do something. “
West, who volunteered within the Church, started this system by delivering groceries and cleansing provides to the houses of individuals in want, mentioned Daryn Nelsen-Soza, president of the pantry board.
“He put issues within the trunk of his automotive and drove them to individuals’s houses to verify that they had heat garments, meals, cleansing provides – no matter they wanted,” mentioned Nelsen-Soza. “He simply noticed what needed to be carried out and he did it.”
This system bought too massive for one individual, and so got here Martha’s Pantry, a tiny pantry that operated exterior the church on Broadway 2200. Folks with HIV or AIDS and their households might come by and store free of charge.
“We went by means of tough instances. Our church membership was dropping and the pantry was small. The pantry was the dimensions of a giant toilet, ”mentioned Smith. “If Jerry hadn’t been there, each financially and thru his presence, there can be no Martha’s Pantry.”
In 2013, the charity moved to a brand new, bigger location within the Vancouver United Church of Christ in Hazel Dell, overlaying roughly 800 sq. ft.
However the nonprofit would face one other robust hurdle: arson closed each the Vancouver United Church of Christ and Martha’s Pantry in 2016. The charity briefly moved to the Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church till the Hazel Dell Church could possibly be rebuilt. In 2018 Martha’s Pantry was lastly in a position to return dwelling, to a brand new, spacious place on the bottom ground with higher tools.
West remained a loyal volunteer for many years, Smith mentioned.
“Jerry got here within the morning and made espresso, and typically he made muffins,” mentioned Smith. “It is about welcoming these individuals who, by the way in which, have been very marginalized by society.”
West was born in South Dakota and moved to the Vancouver space as a toddler. In 1958 he graduated from Clark School. He spent 4 many years as an educator, working at Columbia Excessive Faculty at White Salmon, Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, Our Woman of Lourdes Catholic Faculty, and the La Heart Faculty District. He completed his profession with The Arc of Southwest Washington, a non-profit advocating for individuals with disabilities.
He typically took pals from the Arc to Martha’s pantry to volunteer.
“He had a very good potential to recollect who you have been,” mentioned Nelsen-Soza. “He remembered individuals once they got here by means of the door and all the time made you are feeling welcome and greeted.”
Martha’s Pantry is situated within the Vancouver United Church of Christ at 1220 NE 68th St. It’s open Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to six:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Right this moment, in accordance with Smith, it provides a couple of hundred individuals a month.
“I believe there are leaders locally who’re on the market who’re vocal and make lots of noise,” mentioned Nelsen-Soza. “Jerry was what I very fondly referred to as a quiet chief. He simply did it. And thru his dedication he was in a position to get individuals to observe him. “
Household and pals will have fun West’s life in a ceremony on the Apostolic Lutheran Church. Church pastor Jason Salmi mentioned Thursday that the main points of this ceremony have but to be finalized.
“I consider the pantry and all of the lives he is touched – it is a massive gap in our group,” mentioned Nelsen-Soza.
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