December 24, 2014 | 12:01 am

NORTH LIBERTY Tina DuBoiss voice is matter of fact when she talks about her childhood. Shell tell you about the Christmas she and her sister got coloring books and a table her father made from a door, or how she knew it was a bad year when she and her siblings didnt get socks and underwear for the holidays.

She doesnt hide that she and her sister begged their mother to put them on their schools free and reduced lunch program or that she had to ask for permission to get a $4 pair of canvas shoes to replace the ones that had fallen apart.

If shes bitter that she had so little when some others may have had so much, it never shows. Instead, DuBoiss voice is full of determination and its clear those memories fuel her current passion making food and resources accessible to the families of North Liberty through her role as the executive director of the North Liberty Community Pantry.

I think people should understand that the experience itself isnt the hard part, DuBois said. Its the judgment of others that is the hard part.

Born and raised just outside of Bloomingdale, Mich., DuBois, 38, said there were times that were worse growing up and times that were better, but there was never a time we had a whole lot.

Both her parents worked. Her mother was a secretary and her father sold insurance and worked in construction. Neither was paid very well.

Her grandparents helped the family out by providing produce from their farm.

After graduating high school, DuBois went to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, where she double-majored in psychology and elementary education. While still in college, DuBois obtained an internship at the Cedar Rapids-based Tanager Place which offers programs and resources to children and family and was hired on upon graduating from Cornell in 1999.

Two years later, with Tanagers assistance, DuBois began taking courses at the University of Iowa, where she pursued a masters in social work while working full-time. It was during that time DuBois went to the North Liberty pantry in 2004.

Originally posted here:

Upbringing shapes North Liberty pantry director