About Us

A Deeper Dive into Who we Are

Our History

Community Harvest began in 2008, serving just 3 families, and has now grown into the largest food pantry in Tazewell county.

COmmunity Harvest was the realized vision of co-founders Paula LaFond and Susan Wagaman, both of Trinity Church. The two women came together from separate tracks, and developed a synergistic relationship that persevered through many ups and downs as the ministry grew.

Paula says, “I feel it’s very important to take your faith and put legs to it.” She started thinking big – wanting to be able to provide everything from food, to clothes, to furniture, to cars for people in the community that had different needs.

Susan came to Trinity in August of 2007 as self-proclaimed “damaged goods”. A severe allergic reaction to a medication given to her in April of 2007 left her with diminished ability to organize her thoughts and speech. She was no longer able to continue in her line of work as a hospital lab technician but when talk began of a starting a food pantry, she couldn’t stay away.

Years earlier, Susan had been a part of a huge church in Lexington, Kentucky that had the kind of ministry Paula dreamed of. Having experienced that, she painstakingly worked to use and communicate her experiences and knowledge to help set the course of action to get the ministry started.

Our Volunteers 

Our Volunteers come from several local churches and the community at large. Over 6,000 volunteer hours are worked each year to prepare and distribute food to our guests.