Leading the new fight on hunger
In the past two weeks we have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for our services. We anticipate that need will grow exponentially as schools remain closed and paychecks disappear. As a supporter of the Food Bank, we wanted to give you an inside look at what it’s like to lead in a crisis and adapt our services to the ever-changing new normal.
The biggest fundraiser of the year, the Nourish Gala, had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic. How can our supporters help make up for that loss?
We are working on doing something special in May to fill that $200,000 gap in funding that we would normally raise at the gala, but we don’t have all the details yet. In the meantime, supporters can help by sponsoring boxes of emergency food for $20 each. This is the most effective and safest streamlined way for us to get groceries out into the community to handle the increase in demand due to COVID-19.
You’re in charge of both fundraising and our volunteers, describe what it feels like when those volunteer shifts fill up and donations come in.
I get to see beautiful things happen daily; people giving of themselves to help others is always uplifting and strengthens my faith in humanity. Our volunteers and donors make a real impact not only on our community but on me personally.
What keeps you up at night?
I think one of my biggest worries is what could happen in the next year or two. When the pandemic is no longer on people’s minds, will they forget about the need? I do believe our community and our organization can come out of this better and stronger, just based on what I have witnessed in the last several weeks.
Read more interviews from some of our leaders during this crisis:
- Nora Nicholson – Program Director
- Hisham Hamdy – Operations Director
- Joel Sjostrom – President and CEO
- Lisa Sherrill – Communications Director
