A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Jessica Trunk

Portage native Jessica Trunk is always looking to help her community learn more. After bouncing between a few career ideas growing up – from pediatrician to chef to graphic designer – Trunk landed on teaching after spending time as an instructional lead at Crisman Elementary School.

“I really liked that ‘Aha!’ moment the kids got when they finally understood something I explained to them,” Trunk said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this.’ That’s what led me to pursue a degree in education.”

Trunk currently serves as a teacher for Portage Township Schools at Fegely Middle School. She previously taught English/Language Arts, but is pivoting to teaching social studies and civics in the upcoming school year. She uses her own experiences growing up in Portage to connect with her students and build their love of education.

“I tell students that I’ve sat in these seats, been in this classroom, and walked these halls. I’ve been exactly where they are, and it totally helps make a connection with the kids,” Trunk said. “It’s 20 years removed, but it’s a topic of conversation we can have throughout the year.”

In addition to her work with Portage Township Schools, Trunk also owns a small local business alongside her husband: The Spice Cabinet. Located at 5973 McCasland Ave., the Spice Cabinet sells spices, herbs, and loose leaf teas in a refillery style, meaning customers can purchase smaller or larger amounts than are typically available in grocery stores.

Trunk started the business three years ago with the belief that Portage deserves nice things; people shouldn’t have to travel far from home to find spices beyond the grocery store shelves. The community has been very welcoming of the idea.

“The goal is to be environmentally friendly while staying wallet friendly. You can come into the store and buy as much or as little of something as you’d like,” Trunk said. “The community is pretty receptive. We have a steady stream of repeat customers, and we see new ones all the time.”

The Spice Cabinet also gives Trunk a chance to expand the community’s cooking knowledge. Whether it’s customers coming in searching for spices with specific flavors, or just wanting to know how to use some of the stuff in their own pantry, Trunk takes the time to make sure every customer leaves happier than when they walked in.

“I like being able to help people increase their knowledge,” Trunk said. “The Spice Cabinet does have a money-saving aspect because you can just get what you need, but I like that a lot of people will come in to ask questions because they want to know more. I like for people to be informed about what they are buying and using in their life.”

At the heart of both Trunk’s teaching and her business is human connection. In a time where people are increasingly isolated from their communities, Trunk is making new friends all the time thanks to her work.

“I have plenty of customers that come in for an ounce of Italian seasoning and end up talking with me for an hour. We both have someone to talk to today, and they leave with a smile on their face because they made a connection with someone when they maybe wouldn’t have talked to anyone all day long,” Trunk said. “That even translates into my teaching because some kids may not have someone they can talk to, except when they’re at school. Those connections are so incredibly important.”

Luckily for Trunk, she finds that Portage has an abundance of people with unique stories and a willingness to share.

“I’ve met so many amazing people through the Spice Cabinet and so many amazing students through teaching. It’s incredible,” she said.

When Trunk isn’t busy with the Spice Cabinet or teaching, she enjoys staying active with a variety of hobbies. Video games, hiking, building book nooks and LEGO kits – Trunk likes to do activities with her husband and her children. She’s also an avid reader, antiquer, and baker. She’d eventually like to expand the Spice Cabinet to include a bakery aspect in some form.

Living in Portage for her whole life has given Trunk a large appreciation for the people who make the community special.

“It’s the people,” she said. “There is some negativity, but if you look past that, you see neighbors helping neighbors. You see people answering questions to help others. You’ve got to look for the helpers because we have a lot of them in our community.”

Interested in learning more about the Spice Cabinet? Visit the store, shop online, and follow it on Facebook to see everything on offer.