The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
April 2007

A Woman of Distinction

By Lee Pulaski, Lake Powell Chronicle

Jean Keplinger, recipient of the 2006 Woman of Distnction award

PAGE — Jean Keplinger never saw it coming. She didn't think she knew enough members of the Page-Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce to even be nominated, much less receive, an award.

However, Keplinger was the recipient for the 2006 Woman of Distinction award, formerly the Athena award. As one of the movers and shakers in the Circle of Page, Keplinger has touched tens of thousands of lives, either directly or indirectly.

The Page Food Pantry, one of the programs under the Circle of Page, served 3,842 families in 2006, Keplinger said, which comprised 16,536 people. This is a huge leap from Keplinger's first year with the food pantry, when just fewer than 500 needy families received food boxes.

The other programs have also helped swaths of people. The Healthy Meals Soup Kitchen serves an average of 800 people per month, while the Salvation Army provides emergency assistance to more than 400 families.

Keplinger is quick to push the limelight away from herself and over to other people. She adamantly pointed out that she is one of many volunteers who touch these people's lives.

"I don't feel like I'm a visible person," Keplinger said after the awards ceremony on Saturday. "I know that I know a lot of people, but they're not business people. They're not who I deal with, the disenfranchised people."

After some prodding, Keplinger admitted that she was excited about receiving the award, because to her, it's a badge of honor for all the Circle of Page volunteers.

"I can't wait to tell all of the people who are volunteers," she said. "We don't get paid for what we do. We're not invisible; people know that we're here, and we do make a difference. I want to share this with the people I work with."

Keplinger and her husband, Rev. Steve Keplinger of St. David's Episcopal Church, moved to Page six years ago and started up the food pantry soon after. For her, she gets more when she gives.

"When you're able to give something to someone, they change. When you give it to them with no strings attached, their attitude changes and their personality changes. They're beautiful, and they turn into beautiful people (when someone gives)," Keplinger said. "So many times, they've turned around and given back to the community. If we're able to give a loan to someone who has really had problems, they'll come back and pay us if they've been treated like a responsible adult."

The key to charity work is to treat everyone, regardless of financial status, like human beings, Keplinger said. Many of the people that the Circle of Page gives to come back and volunteer.

"We always need volunteers," Keplinger said. "It's very gratifying to be able to help people, to be involved with people. There's nothing that makes you feel better. I try to stay behind the scenes. (Being in the public eye) is not what it's about."

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