PvilleYI hosts poverty conference in pleasantville

June 5, 2024:

In June 2023, PvilleYI Co-Founders Jennie Koenig and Emily Caulkins attended a Marion County Poverty Conference hosted by The Well, an organization in Marion County that serves those in need. The conference provided PvilleYI with a unique perspective that helped as we served our community members in Pleasantville.

Pleasantville's poverty level is 5% over the state level. In the last 20 years Pleasantville's poverty rate has more than doubled from 7% to 16%. And as of 2020, 25% of those under the poverty level were 6 years of age or younger. 

With these statistics in mind, we worked with The Well to bring a Poverty Conference to Pleasantville. We invited leaders from our school, city, churches, and organizations to attend.

On June 5th 2024, our team hosted the Marion County Poverty Conference at Pleasantville’s High School Library. The conference was well-attended with representatives from nearly every church, organization, and leadership team in our community.

Jayson Henry, Well CEO, led the conference. PvilleYI provided a lunch for participants catered by Halftime Bar and Grill.

This conference is part of our effort to make Pleasantville a compassionate and welcoming community for people of all demographics. Thank you to everyone who attended and all those who helped make this possible!

Resources that were passed out at the event were:

A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D

Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton

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summer 2024: 27,056 Meals Distributed in Pleasantville

In the summer of 2024, PvilleYI partnered with Knoxville Food Youth Initiative and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church to serve the teens in our community with meals. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from June 3rd to August 2nd, our volunteers worked together to serve an average of 200 bags per day. Each bag contained 4 to 6 meals for each child and teen.

In total, we distributed 5,794 bags.

This means that we distributed 27,056 meals to children and teens in Pleasantville!

We believe the success of the program in Pleasantville is in part due to our efforts to reduce the stigma associated with participating in a food distribution program. Our volunteers go above and beyond to greet children and make sure they feel seen and worthwhile, even if it’s only a brief interaction. We take time to welcome families with a warm smile and a kind greeting.

We are so grateful that we were able to work with KFYI and St. Paul’s UMC to provide this much needed service to our community!



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News, Community Jennie Koenig News, Community Jennie Koenig

Trick or treat on the square 2024

It’s always a fun night trick or treating in Pleasantville! We again hosted our Trick or Treat on the Square event on Halloween. This event brings community businesses and organizations together to give the kids a night to remember.

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Community Partnerships, Events, News, Community Jennie Koenig Community Partnerships, Events, News, Community Jennie Koenig

Trick or Treat on the Square 2023

We had a GREAT night at our Trick or Treat on the Square 2023! It was a COLD night, but we had a record turnout none the less. This could be in part to the Chick-fil-a food truck! They joined us for the night and families had a great time trick-or-treating and grabbing a bite to eat as well. In fact, Chick-Fil-A had to send for MORE food. How about that!

Thanks to the organizations and businesses who came out to give the kiddos treats!

American Legion Women’s Auxiliary

Bill Harvey Construction

Boy Scouts

Brandi Booth

Checkerboard

Christ Family Church

City of Pleasantville

Crush Nutrition

D&D Auto Body

Dollar General

Fairview Christian Church

Friends of the Library

Marion County Express

Masons

Peoples Bank

Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce

Pleasantville Christian Church

Smokey Row

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Unleashed Pet Boarding

Za-Ga-Zig Shriners

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FCA Worship Night

We were so excited to help at the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) worship night at Pleasantville Christian Church. We were able to bring cookies donated by Subway as well as drinks to offer as refreshments following the service.

Originally the event was intended to be an outdoor service behind the library. When heavy rain threatened to cancel the event, Pleasantville Christian Church stepped up to open their doors to the teens who had organized the event.

It was a beautiful night of worship!

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Community, Fun, News Jennie Koenig Community, Fun, News Jennie Koenig

Pville Pig Out 2023

We had some fun at the 2023 Pleasantville Pig Out! We set up our 9-Square set on the square and kids, teens, and adults had some fun playing the game! We love to bring a little fun to our community whenever we can.

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Youth Events, News, Gifts, Fun, Events, Community, Prom Jennie Koenig Youth Events, News, Gifts, Fun, Events, Community, Prom Jennie Koenig

Girls Prom Prep and Brunch

On Saturday, April 22nd, PvilleYI hosted a free girls prom prep day and brunch. We had five volunteers ready to do hair and makeup for girls for free. These were by appointment, and our volunteers were busy the whole day!

In addition, all girls attending the PHS prom were invited to drop-in for a prom day brunch. We served them a beautiful charcuterie-style spread complete with yogurt parfait, fruit, pastries, chicken salad sandwiches, meats and cheeses, and of course, Girl Scout cookies! Tables were also decorated with tulips picked from our very own gardens.

Girls were also welcomed with an ice-coffee bar and a delicious breakfast punch.

Each girl left with a gift bag containing a pura-vida bracelet, scrunchies, candy, gum, and a few items they may need in a pinch on prom day including some tissues, bandaids, makeup wipes, and lip gloss.

We absolutely loved to welcome these girls with open arms and bless them with some hospitality on their special day!

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to our hair and make-up volunteers: Holly DeGoey, Sierra Hutton, Taelor Sheets, Grace Hayes, and Chelsea Bender. Also to Brenda Goodale who donated acrylic nail sets for the girls to have! And to Tammy Clark for her help in set up, welcoming, and clean up.

Another HUGE THANK YOU goes to Ali and Mike Cranmer for donating pastries from jaarsma and Pella beef sticks/cheese curds.


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News, Community, Trick or Treat Jennie Koenig News, Community, Trick or Treat Jennie Koenig

2022 Trick or Treat on the Square

Trick or Treat! We had so much fun on the square with everyone this year!

Thanks to all of the local businesses and organizations who participated! We are so happy when we can all come together and make the night special for the kids in our community.

Those who participated were:

The City of Pleasantville

Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce

Friends of the Library

Masonic Lodge

Pleasantville Christian Church

Unleashed Pet Boarding

Christ Family Church

Zag Trax Shriners

Fairview Christian Church

St Paul’s United Methodist Church

Brandi Booth

Bill Harvey Construction

Stubb’s Propane

D&D Auto

People’s Bank

Smokey Row

Auxiliary

Adriana Freeborn

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16,040 Meals Distributed: Summer 2022

This Summer, we helped distribute 16,040 meals to Pleasantville Kids and Teens! A total of 4,010 Bags were passed out, each containing two breakfasts and two lunches. Knoxville Food Youth Initiative has worked so hard to meet Pleasantville’s requested numbers, and we were so blessed to work with them to get those meals into the hands of our community members. They serve not only Pleasantville, but Knoxville, Melcher, and more!

Teens and kids showed up with parents to pick up their meals. They also came on their own, pulling wagons or riding their bicycles. We loved serving them and getting to say hello every Monday Wednesday and Friday.

Over the summer, we had many incredible volunteers who helped us! We would like to give a special shout-out to teens Reagan Murray and Adoniah Koenig who were present almost every day that we distributed meals. Also to the many little ones who came along with their moms or grandmas to help out!

A HUGE thanks goes to Pleasantville’s St. Paul United Methodist Church for the use of their facility, and for the women who volunteered each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Their hard work, hospitality, and joyful presence reminded us so much of Jesus, who they love and serve.

And we can’t forget to say thank you to our dear friend Jim Brees, who delivered the meals and took care of much of the heavy lifting every single day. Selfless, helpful, and generous, we looked forward to hearing his big booming “hello!” each time he arrived. His arms were always full of boxes and coolers, or popsicles he brought for the children who were helping.

We love our community. We were so happy to help serve them this summer!

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Over $7,000 Raised At Silent Auction

On April 30th, 2022, PvilleYI hosted a Silent Auction fundraiser with guest speaker Van Harden. We had a great turn out and raised $7,440 to help fund our work over the next year in Pleasantville!

We are so thankful for all the hard work that our volunteers put into the event. We appreciated especially the help of our volunteer musicians, Mike Fust and his daughter Grace Fust, as well as our guest “amateur” auctioneer Mark Core.

And of course, we were more than honored to hear the kind and supportive words that Van Harden had to share about our work here! We were so encouraged by his stories and his daily prayer, “Tell me. Send me. Show me.”

We would like to say THANK YOU to all of the individuals and organizations who donated goods to our silent auction fundraiser. THANK YOU for helping us raise over $7,000 for our work here in Pleasantville! We are GRATEFUL!

Jerry & Pandia Bender

Paul Gordon

Midwest Wheel

Iowa Pork Producers

Iowa State Fair

Skip Jackson

The Galvin House

Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers

Rubish to Rubies

Stubbs Propane

Angel Bingham with Young Living

Knoxville Aviation

Fireside Winery

Shivers Farms

Rejuvenate Rx

Iowa State University

Pleasantville Girl Scouts

Radiant Candle

Barb Pettyjohn

Brett Campbell

The West Place

Brian & Jerri Vestal with ABO Research

Sams Club

Oskaloosa Axe Club

Carly Hodson with Pampered Chef

Peoples Bank

Nancy Kelderman with Avon

Permanent Cosmetics

Lou Lane Soap Co

Michael & Jacque Moats

Tournament Tackle

Lakefront Living

Covenant Construction Services

Smokey Row

Iowa Cubs

Gilcrest Jewitt

Angie Hulsebus with Mary Kay

Kelsey Sutter

Mary Hampton

Elrod Timber

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame

Justin and Stephanie Fehrer

Strawhat Farms

Checkerboard

Belzer Equipment

Margie Mix

Ky's Custom Woodworking & Restoration

Stringtown Seed Shop

Iowa Wild

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Outreach, Youth Events, Community, Class, Girl Scouts, News Jennie Koenig Outreach, Youth Events, Community, Class, Girl Scouts, News Jennie Koenig

Cookie Decorating With Pleasantville Girl Scouts

On February 16, 2022, PvilleYI Co-Founder Emily Caulkins taught our local Pleasantville Girl Scout Troop 624. It was a ton of fun! The Girl Scouts learned a little bit about the science of baking, as well as techniques for decorating sugar cookies like a pro.

The cookies and frosting the Girl Scouts used were made at our cookie decorating class the night before, where we taught teens how to mix, roll out, cut, and bake sugar cookies.

We were so happy to spend time with all these happy, smiling faces! We’re proud of these Girl Scouts and congratulations on getting your baking badges!

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Cookie Making Class

On February 15th, 2022, we had a cookie making class for a small group of middle school and high school students. PvilleYI co-founder Emily Caulkins taught the teens the basics of making large batches of sugar cookies. She showed them how to carefully measure ingredients (yes, you really do need to make sure that was 2 cups and not 3), how to mix the ingredients properly, how to roll the dough just right, and how to use cookie cutters and bake the cookies. The teens also made delicious frosting.

This class was for the teens to learn baking skills, but it was also an opportunity for them to give back to the community. These cookies and frosting were going to be used by our Pleasantville Girl Scout troop to use for their cookie decorating class, which Emily taught as well.

We served these helpful bakers some pizza while we waited for cookies to bake. During this time we were able to talk and learn about each other, see the teens incredible art in their sketchbooks, and laugh together.

It was a fantastic time. Thank you to Pleasantville’s St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for allowing us to use their Family Life Center and kitchen for this event!

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Ecumenical, Church, Blue Christmas, Community Jennie Koenig Ecumenical, Church, Blue Christmas, Community Jennie Koenig

Blue Christmas 2021- Ecumenical Service

On December 21, 2021, PvilleYI joined together with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Pleasantville Christian Church, and Fairview Christian Church to host a Blue Christmas event.

The Holiday season isn’t always joyful for everyone. Many struggle with grief, depression, and loneliness this time of year. This event provides a space for people who struggle during the holidays to acknowledge loss, receive prayer, and find light in the darkness.

Special thanks to Pastor Brandon Campbell from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Pastor Don Naftz from Pleasantville Christian Church, Pastor Clinton Wallace from Fairview Christian Church, and Pastor Willa Heaberlin from Woodburn Christian Church. Each Pastor shared a short message with the crowd.

Stations were set up where people could light a candle in memory of a loved one, write down their hurts and symbolically lay them at the foot of the cross, and where they could write an encouraging note for someone else to take home with them.

This was the fist ecumenical service in Pleasantville for many years, and we were honored to be a part of it.

Another huge THANK YOU to Smokey Row for allowing us to use your facility for this event!

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Fun, News, Community Jennie Koenig Fun, News, Community Jennie Koenig

Happy Fourth of July from PvilleYI!

Wow! We were SO excited to have our 4th of July festivities back this year. Covid-19 was on the rampage in 2020 but thankfully we can carefully begin to get back to some sort of normal again. We are super THANKFUL for all the many essential employees who have worked so hard during this trying time.

We are extra thankful for our freedoms, this year!

Happy 4th of July from PvilleYI! We loved tossing candy and fun patriotic novelties as well!

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