Meet The Team – Wisconsin ECI

Email Address

Smileforchristssake@yahoo.com

Phone Number

1.715.252.7860

Our Location

Stevens Point, WI

MEET EVERGREEN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Evergreen Community Initiatives, is made up a lot of volunteers. Without our volunteers our programs won’t exist. Our Board of Directors is made up of people from all walks of life with various skill sets, but they all have one common goal: to help people in our community. It started out sharing Movies In The Park with Highland Church of Plover and as the needs grew, so did the program list. They now feed, clothe, and shelter the less fortunate, hang scarves from trees to help people keep warm during the cold, long winter months, and have secured a building with the code name “Warming Center” to give extra spaces for the homeless to stay.

Tiffani Krueger

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Co-Chair, Super mom, and former foster parent, Stevens Point
When : Founding Member to Present

Tiffani is a local champion and advocate for the homeless. She is lead for both the Stevens Point Warming Center and The Kids Closet. Tiffani has a heart for all she encounters. Moved by her faith, John 14:18 says "I will not leave you as orphans..." and Tiff does everything she can to help those in most desperate of need, paying it forward, in our community.

Patti Lewis Hermes

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member at Large, Place of Peace meal coordinator/ Communications
When : 2014 to Present

If you call to sign up to provide a meal or come to partake, you have most likely see Patti in the kitchen. When asked why she volunteered Patti said, “I volunteer because my passion is to help, serve and care for others. God said 'This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.' John 15:12."

Jeff Stelk

Seat : Uncomfortable Desk Chair
Position : Member at Large, Web Master, Video Producer
When : 2010 to Present

Jeff started as head of security and tech support for Movies In The Park. Through that program he got to know Joel and Al and eventually the rest of the ECI crew. Jeff has donated his services to the cause by building and maintaining the Evergreen Community Initiatives website. Jeff not only helps out ECI, but he also is a co-manager of the photo and video Lifest group called the Ninjagraphers, photo/video guy for Royal Family Kids Camp and is a Cubmaster and Den Leader for the Cub Scouts and STEM Scouts.

Robert Pattillo

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member at Large (Committee Chair), Maintence La Quinta, Stevens Point
When : Founding Member to Present

When getting groceries from the Place of Peace Pantry, Bob is hard to miss. A mainstay and main advocate of the pantry since Evergreen Community was started. When asked why he served, Bob had this to say:

“I love serving God and others. I have met and served with, so many awesome people. It is so rewarding and a blessing!”

Dee Ruetten

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Co-Chair
When : 2013 to Present

Dee has participated and volunteered in many of Evergreen Community Initiative’s programs, since the beginning. She has always worked behind the scene, where ever needed. This past year she has taken on a more active role at Place of Peace and The Kid's Closet. As to why she loves volunteering in these areas? There is nothing more important than letting someone know, they are so loved and very special. The smile and hug I get in return, PRICELESS.

Samantha Varga

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member at Large
When : 2022 to Present

Secretary and Warming Center Advocate

Jeane Grys-Pattillo

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member at Large
When : 2018 to Present

Jeane is married to Robert (Bob) Pattillo and has a passion for serving others. She has been observed volunteering at Place of Peace, has assisted with obtaining donations for the Kids' Closet as well as for the homeless. Jeane is on Staff at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, is an Ordained Minister and serves as a volunteer Chaplain.

Al Kinnunen

Seat : Honorarium
Position : Founding Chairperson
When : Founding Member to 2013

Al moved to Stevens Point in 2002 and immediately noticed the needs in the community around him. When an opportunity to arose to feed people and meet one of those needs at the place of peace, he immediately gathered his friends and signed up. At his first meal, 9 turkeys were deep fried, the driveway caught on fire twice, and Al caught the bug for helping others.

Beth Ackeret

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member At Large
When : 2022 to Present

Beth helps with our Kid’s Closet Facebook page. She and her daughter love their time spent at The Kid’s Closet look forward to the back-to-school bash and Christmas toy giveaway each year.

Jill Miller

Seat : Board of Directors
Position : Member at Large
When : 2016 to present

Jill, also known as "the lunch lady" at the Warming Center, has volunteered in a variety of ways for ECI. Most recently she is helping Patti get Place of Peace up and running again. When asked why she got involved in ECI "It all started with an idea of packing sack lunches for the guests at the Warming Center so they would have something to eat while they were there or for on their way out the door in the morning." I have met so many great people while volunteering! I feel blessed to be a part of this organization.

1Peter 4:10 'Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.'

Our Programs

Help Your Community

Contact Info

Who We Are

Evergreen Community Initiatives, is made up of a lot of volunteers. Without our volunteers our programs won’t exist. Our Board of Directors is made up of people from all walks of life with various skill sets, but they all have one common goal: to help people in our community.