October 29, 2025
By Rachel Scofield
The Pickerington Food Pantry has a familiar face stepping into its top leadership role. Kaylie Eisel Fellers, a Pickerington native and longtime volunteer, has been named Executive Director — a position she calls “the honor of a lifetime.”
Fellers, a 2011 Pickerington Central graduate, went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University in 2015. She and her husband, Ian, a firefighter/paramedic with the Violet Township Fire Department, live on a small farm in Baltimore with their daughters, Kendall (3) and Caroline (1), and their two cows, Elsie and Clover.
“I love this community,” she said. “We enjoy attending local events in Pickerington and Fairfield County. In my spare time, I love listening to audiobooks, baking, gardening, and spending time with our cows.”
Fellers first began volunteering at the Pantry in 2020, just before the COVID shutdown. She quickly took on greater responsibility, serving as Client Hours Supervisor, then Operations Coordinator in 2024, before being appointed Executive Director this fall.
Before her full-time role with the Pantry, she worked as an Office Manager for a local business, gaining organizational and leadership experience that now serves her well in nonprofit management.
“This is the honor of a lifetime for me,” Fellers said. “The joy and hope that the Food Pantry brings to so many is remarkable and getting to be a part of that is such a privilege that I do not take lightly. Working for the pantry in this capacity is truly a dream come true — my job doesn’t feel like ‘work.’ I leave here daily feeling inspired and with purpose.”
A Smooth Transition and Strong Vision
According to Darrin Monhollen, of the Food Pantry Board of Trustees, the transition in leadership has been seamless.
“The Pickerington Food Pantry Board of Trustees intentionally selected Kaylie based on her previous tenure at the pantry and her obvious experience and expertise in the needed roles and responsibilities,” Monhollen said. “The transition has been very smooth. Kaylie has adapted well to her new role, bringing a fresh, new perspective to the pantry’s operations. She’s making a positive impact, and we feel inspired seeing what she has already been able to accomplish.”
Fellers follows Vanessa Niekamp, who served as Executive Director from November 2017 until earlier this year.
Having grown up in Pickerington, Monhollen said, Fellers brings “a genuine passion for serving our community” and “a high-level understanding of our clients’ needs.”
“Kaylie leads with compassion,” he added. “She has excelled in fundraising and overall management of the pantry, allowing our programs to run efficiently.”
Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope
As Executive Director, Fellers now oversees all aspects of the pantry’s operations — from grant writing and community outreach to fundraising initiatives and partnerships with groups such as the United Way of Fairfield County and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
Her focus remains on keeping the pantry’s programs strong and sustainable as the organization continues to meet the growing needs of families across most of the Pickerington Local School District (Residents living within the zip codes 43068 and 43110 are served by different providers.)
“Come see us!” she said. “We are always in need of volunteers on Saturdays. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and do incredible work.”
Residents interested in donating or volunteering can visit pickpantry.com or call (614) 834-0079. The Pickerington Food Pantry is located at 70 Cross Street, Suite B.
