Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry director Janelle Hoover stepped into her new role on Feb. 6. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry’s new director, Janelle Hoover, officially stepped into her position on Feb. 6. And, although she knew there would be some growing pains, she seemed confident that the transition in leadership would go smoothly.

That was, in part, due to the fact that the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization’s former food pantry director, Cari Simon, was in full support of Hoover being her replacement. It was also largely due to the fact that Hoover had already become deeply involved with volunteer work at the food pantry over the past year.

“I’m definitely excited about stepping into this position,” Hoover said. “This is a fantastic opportunity, to be such an important part of Shepherdstown and feeding its people. Cari’s shoes are very big to fill, but I’m very excited to be here!”

She expressed her appreciation for all of the work that Simon had done to build the Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry into a successful organization, providing food and hygiene products for those in the 25443 zip code area who are in need, due to being unemployed or underemployed.

Hoover said she has lived in Shepherdstown, off-and-on, for many years. She attended Shepherd University and, prior to her employment at the food pantry, worked for Shepherd University Catering Services.

“I just adore Shepherdstown. I’ve been back in Shepherdstown for about two years,” Hoover said. “I’m so excited to be back here!”

Around eight months ago, Hoover first began volunteering at the Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry, after hearing about it from Simon, who was renting the downstairs apartment in Hoover’s and her boyfriend’s house. Hoover found herself enjoying the experience of volunteering with her new friend and getting to work with many other like-minded individuals.

“The volunteers that we have are just amazing! I absolutely adore everybody,” Hoover said. “Everybody here is just so loving and welcoming and giving.

“This is the kind of job that I have always been searching for,” Hoover said. “It was right for me to try and find something like this, where I was more a part of the community. I want my work to be able to help other people.”

Her work history backs that up, as she started out as a restaurant server at the age of 15, before becoming a certified nursing assistant at age 17. She noted that her desire to help others was instilled in her from a young age, by her grandparents.

“My grandparents gave to so many people, through their church and their community. They were just amazing people! They did a lot of donating unknown — they didn’t do what they did to get recognition,” Hoover said. “They definitely taught me to try my hardest and to help whenever I can.”

In her new role, Hoover said she plans to continue the good work that Simon established and to expand upon it.

“I hope to not only continue to feed the people that we already are feeding, but to also grow to where we are feeding even more people,” Hoover said. “That’s our goal, to feed people, and to give them the resources that they need, if their family is struggling. And if there is more that we can do to help somebody, I’d like to help as much as I can, in the community.”