When an unfamiliar vegetable arrives at Phoenixville Area Community Services, volunteers often turn to Elaine Miller.

Miller, a retiree, has earned the affectionate nickname “Queen of the Unidentified Vegetable” for recognizing unusual donated produce and helping shoppers figure out how to use it. She also shares recipes and cooking suggestions for foods that might otherwise be overlooked.

Miller began volunteering at the Chester County nonprofit in 2021 and has worked in roles ranging from stocking shelves to managing its busy Saturday market.

Produce donations arrive with grocery-store prepared meals, bags collected from neighbors and fresh-picked vegetables from gardeners. Each delivery can bring something unfamiliar for the food bank’s volunteers to sort and make available to shoppers.

Miller has identified vegetables such as red okra and tomatillos when others were unsure what they were. Her knowledge helps turn unusual donations into food people can recognize and use.

When the pantry has more of a particular item than shoppers are taking, Miller shares recipes and suggestions. She has recommended pickled radishes and mashed rutabagas, and draws attention to lettuce by noting when it was harvested that morning.

Before retiring, Miller spent more than 30 years consulting with financial services and health care organizations through major transitions. Retirement gave her time to volunteer, and she chose work connected to food; she now spends four days a week helping with donations.

Her work has also shown her that food insecurity affects people in Chester County, including residents who are employed. Miller told Spotlight PA that helping neighbors is both difficult to witness and deeply fulfilling. Read Erin Negley’s full report for Spotlight PA.

Source: Erin Negley, Spotlight PA.