She had been leader of the Love Chapel food pantry only a short time when her youngest child was born.
So, with her board’s approval, executive director Elizabeth Kestler began bringing baby Noah to work with her. She nurtured him while she also nurtured the growing nonprofit Christian outreach — one that now feeds more than 1,000 families monthly and boasts a $300,000 11-year-old foundation to provide the Love Chapel with sustained stability.
For helping oversee the ministry’s significant growth over 19 years and other extensive community involvement, the Indianapolis native and Columbus resident Kestler accepted the honor of being the Republic’s 37th annual Woman of the Year during a Tuesday reception at Donner Center. Begun in 1981 by former Republic features editor Jean Prather, the award highlights a woman with a history of giving her time and talent for others.
“This work has been a gift,” Kestler told a gathering of more than 125 people, including family, friends, ministers, Love Chapel volunteers and others who gave her a standing ovation. “It’s overwhelming to be recognized in this manner.”
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At a couple of points in her remarks, the 58-year-old Kestler, who always has said God deserves any glory for any of her success, held back tears. She thanked her family, staff, volunteers, the 25 member churches of the Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches, those she called “prayer warriors” and others.
As part of her recognition, The Republic leaders presented her with the traditional Woman of the Year medallion necklace and a $2,000 in cash to be presented to a charity of her choice, which was the Love Chapel Foundation.
She told her audience that her preparation for Love Chapel leadership began in 1981, when she began working through a mission program of the United Methodist Church at the Dumas Wesley Community Center in Mobile, Alabama. There, two strong mentors taught her how to love and help the struggling.
She mentioned that the focus at Love Chapel — where residents get help with food, rent, utilities and more — is “that those in need are served with love and compassion.”
Republic Editor Tom Jekel highlighted one comment from a person submitting a letter nominating Kestler for the honor. The writer lauded Kestler for her work “to give a voice to those in our community with no voice.”
Love Chapel volunteers Jim Gillespie and Jerry Karr, whom Kestler lovingly referred to as two of her “Dads,” had just helped form a buildings-and-grounds committee for the facility when Kestler began her work there in 1999.
Karr mentioned that Kestler immediately acted more like a teammate than a commanding boss.
“You never really worked FOR Elizabeth,” Karr said. “You worked WITH her.”
Gillespie mentioned that he “couldn’t be happier” with Kestler’s attention and honor.
“She is indicative of so much of the talent that permeates Columbus, Indiana,” he said.
Susan Fye, who grew up in Hope with Kestler, was fascinated with the major impact of her friend and a collection of past Republic Women of the Year in the first two rows of seats at Donner. That included Fye’s sister, Barb Johnson of Hope.
“If you look down the line at what they all have done, you’ll see that they’ve actually changed history,” Fye said. “And a lot of them have done that pretty quietly while behind the scenes.”
Before Kestler finished her remarks, she reiterated something that she mentioned when she first told her board of her plans to retire. She talked of the importance of “not missing the adventure” of life. She prizes the twists and turns of her own experience.
“And it has been an amazing adventure,” she said.
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Age: 58.
Born: In Indianapolis, but moved to Hope at age 2 and grew up there.
Family: Husband John; three children, Hannah Kestler Shaffer, Grace Kestler and Noah Kestler.
Position: Executive director, Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches, since 1999. Retiring in January.
Volunteer experience through the years: Administrative board of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church; St. Peter’s Sunday School volunteer; United Way of Bartholomew County board; Vacation Bible School volunteer; member of Sunrise Rotary Club; board member of the American Red Cross; volunteer for Harrison Township Fire Company Omelet Brunch.
Prior social service jobs: Worked in a detention center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of a college internship; former US2 United Methodist missions program at Dumas Wesley Community Center in Mobile, Alabama; former director of social services at The Cabbage Patch Settlement House working with youth and families in Louisville, Kentucky; operated three child care centers in upstate New York; developed a plan for a community center within a housing project in Dallas, Texas.
Education: 1977 Hauser High School graduate; undergraduate sociology degree from Hanover College; community ministries master’s degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.
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