Food for People, The Food Bank for Humboldt County
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Food for People
The Food Bank for Humboldt County

307 West 14th Street
Eureka, CA 95501

Telephone: (707) 445-3166
Fax: (707) 445-5946

 

Executive Director of Food For People, Inc.

Anne Holcomb, Executive Director, with Children's Summer Lunch Sponsors 2008 
Anne Holcomb
Anne Holcomb has served as Executive Director of Food for People since April of 2001 and has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration. Her past assignments have included projects in special education, assistive technology, computer recycling and development of a continuum of community-based care for individuals with disabilities. She moved from Maine to Humboldt County in December of 2000 to be closer to her adult children and growing grandchildren and is passionately committed to creating a community in which everyone has an opportunity to grow and thrive with dignity.

Staff

Andy NietoAndy Nieto, Operations Manager
Currently serving as our Operations Manager, Andy previously headed up our Child Nutrition Program. She is also experienced working with youth recreation programs and a local graduate from HSU with majors in both Anthropology and Women's Studies. Andy now oversees the tracking and documenting of the 1.6 million pounds of food distributed each year to low income families and individuals through Food for People's community programs. Her passion for creating a better world leads her here to helping people meet their most basic need - having enough good food to eat.

Jasmine McCrackenChris Smiley, Community Food Programs Coordinator
In addition to being a chef here in Humboldt County for over ten years, Chris has also put his culinary talents to work raising money for nonprofits at a benefit in Mendocino County for the past six years. Inspired by the needs of seniors in our community, he will oversee all senior programs including Homebound Delivery, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and will make sure more than 600 seniors a month receive nutritious foods via the Senior Brown Bag Program.

Deborah WaxmanDeborah Waxman, Director of Programs
Deborah provides technical assistance and support for Food for People's food distribution, outreach and advocacy programs. She is also an experienced Food Stamp Program advocate, working to improve program access in Humboldt County and California to help households afford nutritious foods. Deborah is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.A. in Communications and received a Master's Degree from Humboldt State University's Environment & Community Program.

Harriet PecotHarriet Pecot, Fund Development Director
Harriet oversees the various fund development projects that help keep Food for People operational. A former Peace Corps Volunteer with a B.A. in Fine Arts, she brings a variety of marketing and administrative experience to our organization's fundraising events and activities. She moved here from Silicon Valley where she managed a successful real estate business. Harriet now lives here in Humboldt County with her husband, their two daughters and one very neurotic cat.

Michael CanningHeidi McHugh, Community Education & Outreach Coordinator
A graduate of HSU with a degree in Zoology, Heidi previously worked at the Northern California Community Blood Bank as a Lab Assistant and Product Manager. In her current position, Heidi will be focused on Calfresh Outreach, Nutrition Education, Hunger 101 and strengthening our advocacy efforts. When she's not working, you can find her playing with Maximilian (her smiling 18 month old son), her assortment of Chihuahuas and an elderly cat. She also loves working in her garden surrounded by her sunflowers.

Ivy MathenyIvy Matheny, Food Distribution Coordinator
Ivy oversees the daily operations of the new Choice Pantry and helps with the supervision of our valued volunteers, community service, welfare to work and work experience workers. "The staff at Food for People are incredible. I have never worked with a more motivated, productive and inspirational group of people." You can often hear someone call out "Ask Ivy" as she helps facilitate the daily activity at the food bank.


Rebecca ShivelyJason Hervin, Pantry Network Coordinator 
As Pantry Network Coordinator, Jason will oversee the food distribution to our 17 active pantries. He will work one-on-one with each site to enhance their operational capacities and expand their access to locally based resources. Prior to joining our Food for People team, Jason worked with a variety of non-profits including the local Chapter of the Red Cross and World Shelters. He served in the Peace Corps where he worked on small business development in Ghana. Jason is a graduate of Western Washington University where he earned a degree in Business with a minor in Economics.

Jason WhitleyJason Whitley, Local Food Resources Coordinator
Jason coordinates and oversees the Garden and Gleaning Programs and Food Drive activities for Food for People. Jason is a recent graduate of Humboldt State University, where he earned an MA in Sociology. Jason grew up in the rural south of Tennessee where he earned a Bachelors degree from Middle Tennessee State University, also in Sociology. For the last three seasons Jason has worked for Earthly Edibles Organic Farm in Blue Lake.

Deborah WaxmanLaura Hughes, Volunteer Coordinator
Laura brings a wealth of experience to her position here at Food for People. She recently completed her Masters degree in the Environment and Community program at Humboldt State University where her thesis work focused on food justice issues. She has fundraising experience from her time at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology and was Program Director for Friends of the Hudson River Park in New York. Originally from New York State, she brings a variety of experiences and talents (she plays a mean violin!) and shares our passion in the fight against hunger.

Michael CanningMegan Westersund, Nutrition Education Coordinator
Megan has been living in Humboldt County for the last several years and has a degree in Environmental Science and Ethics from Humboldt State University. She has worked as an Environmental Educator, Bicycle Tour Guide, Field Technician, Cook and Outdoor Educator. She is passionate about nutrition and creating delicious inexpensive meals. She enjoys backpacking, baking, ceramics and bike riding in her free time.

Chris WisnerNicole Gribi, Child Nutrition Programs Coordinator
Niki comes to us originally from Maryland via Tokyo, Japan and finally from UC Santa Cruz, where she graduated with a BA in Economics and a MS in Statistics and Finance. She became interested in sustainable agriculture and spent three years running an organic farm in Los Altos before moving to Humboldt County. She lives here with her husband and baby and loves to grow, cook, preserve, eat and enjoy food! She is a great addition to Food for People.

Rebecca ShivelySuzanne Ross-Kohl, Inventory Database Manager
We welcome Suzanne as she dives into our new inventory system and helps us to maintain order in our universe. Suzanne is a long time resident of Humboldt County and has volunteered for years with the Kinetic Universe.  If she isn’t here at Food for People, you can find her at home with her baby girl, Isadora or at the Oberon Grill, owned by her husband’s family.

 

Food for People’s Board of Directors

Judy Anderson, President
Retired Paralegal

Theresa Malloy, Secretary

Jerome Simone, Treasurer
Retired Health Care Administrator

Alison Aldridge
Community Nutrition Manager, United Indian Health Services

Annie Bolick-Floss
HSU Director, Career Center & Service Learning Programs

Betty Osborne
Retired Teacher

Chelsea Barto
Development Associate, Planned Parenthood

Jessica Osborne-Stafsness
Community Health Alliance Coordinator

Melanie Williams
Active Transportation Specialist

Nicholas Vogel
Program Analyst

 

In 2008, Food for People's Gleaning Prgram brought in 133,000 lbs of produce for distribution.