Our people: Walks without fear

Pep resident Gail Keener was one of a group of Victory Life Church members who came together to create the Portales Dream Center. The church’s pastor at the time gathered a group to create the center which he had seen in action in Oklahoma. She has been volunteering her time three days a week at the center since its creation nine years ago.

Keener said the center helps many people.

“It’s a joy to help people who are down on their luck and need a helping hand up,” she said.

Keener, 70, has lived in Pep on and off since she was 2 years old and for the past 45 years. For 16 years, she worked as a custodian at Dora High School.