Board Member Spotlight: Ryan Stauffer
Recently we had the opportunity to sit down with Magnolia residents Lanne and Ryan Stauffer, proprietors of Market Street Shoes in Ballard. The Stauffers, who recently celebrated the store’s 15th anniversary, are very active in the community. Ryan joined the board of directors of Ballard Food Bank in 2020 and Lanne serves on the board of Ballard Alliance.
The Stauffers are committed to giving back to the community, knowing that as individuals and as small business owners, they can make an impact. Even during the pandemic, an incredibly challenging time for all small business owners, they focused on giving back in any way they could.
During the past year, working with mutual aid groups in the community as well as Ballard Food Bank, they gave away an estimated 1,000 pairs of shoes to folks who need them. Lanne laughs and says, “If we owned a restaurant, we’d give away food. Since we own a shoe store, giving shoes to people who need them is a logical thing for us. Having good shoes that fit is so important for everyone, it’s one thing we can do, and we know how important footcare is to a person’s wellbeing and health.”
In addition to his work as a Ballard Food Bank board member, Ryan has pitched in as a volunteer driver, delivering food to food bank clients at home. “I’m happiest when I roll up my sleeves and get to work! Driving on Tuesdays has been really rewarding. I’ve gotten to know so many of the folks on my route. People ask me about what I do – do I get paid? I say no, I’m a volunteer. And they ask how they can be one too.”
Lanne and Ryan Stauffer demonstrate that compassion in action is powerful, and that one person can make a big difference in the lives of others. Witnessing how difficult life can be for our unhoused neighbors, they are determined to do what they can to help.
In discussing the sweeps happening across the city, Ryan’s compassion comes through. “The sweeps have been really hard on people. These are their homes and all their worldly possessions,” says Ryan. “I have my two hands, and I have a truck; one thing I can do is be there when people need help moving their homes and possessions. Sometimes people just need someone to be there.” Ryan also spots opportunities to connect folks to other resources offered at Ballard Food Bank, including obtaining ID vouchers.
It’s clear the Stauffers are hard-working, caring, busy people! Married twenty-five years with three grown children, they laugh and share that they didn’t have a lot of time to date before getting married and having kids, so they’re making up for it now, committed to spending dedicated time relaxing together every week in addition to their community service work. We are grateful to have them in our community.