Fare Share Introductions….
Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank is successful every year, due to the ongoing generosity of the community businesses, donors, staff members and volunteers that help us to provide food security across the County.
We are delighted to introduce you to our dedicated and compassionate employees and provide you with a look into the experiences and skill sets that they bring to our mission to ensure food security.
As the Food Bank Coordinator for the last year, Erin Hunter brings vast capabilities to our busy environment, assisting our community partners and Neighbours as needed and helping our Volunteer Coordinator, Katie Wilson-Martel, to guide the more than 200 volunteers that we have assisting us.
Erin grew up in Lindsay, lived in Fredericton and then moved back to Ontario…falling in love with Cobourg. She brings with her specialized training from her previous employment as an Assistant Executive Director for a provincial crisis line for suicide and mental health.
Erin also brings a wealth of knowledge in curriculum development, networking and partnerships for marginalized populations and empathetically connecting people to resources in the community.
“I have a huge passion for partnerships, and I feel the best service we can do for our Neighbours is providing tangible necessities, from our community.”
Katie Wilson-Martel is our newest employee, named as our Volunteer Coordinator three months ago. Originally from Uxbridge, she has recently found the Cobourg/Grafton area.
Before coming to us, Katie worked as the Community Fundraising Coordinator for the Heart & Stroke Foundation, recruiting, and mobilizing volunteers throughout Peterborough, Durham, and Northumberland for their February fund-raising drive.
Katie also interacted with community groups to drive the fund-raising initiatives that they were considering for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Katie is tasked to structure and manage over two hundred volunteers, their schedules for events and for working at the Food Bank. Katie is kept busy as she recruits and trains new volunteers, identifies volunteer areas of interest, strengths, and skills, and keeps them all informed and is a great representative of our organization to our community.
While Katie has been here for a short three months, she has seen the outpouring of community volunteers looking to help. In speaking about her position with Fare Share, Katie says “We have a wealth of people who support and provide. Everyone shares a drive and passion for the cause. I just want to help maintain and build it.”
Fare Share, and the communities we serve, are lucky to have individuals who are deeply committed to our mission of alleviating hunger and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need within our community.
Erin and Katie play a pivotal role in shaping Fare Share’s strategic direction. They each bring a unique set of skills, empathy, and expertise to the table, from food distribution logistics to community outreach and fundraising. Together, they form the backbone of our food bank and work tirelessly to ensure that no one in our community goes to bed hungry.
As the ongoing challenges of food insecurity persist, we welcome your support to continue making a difference in the lives of those in need. Whether it is a financial donation or being one of our dedicated and generous volunteers, your assistance makes a measurable difference.
To donate, please go to our website at https://fareshare.ca/donate-now/
To volunteer, see what is available at https://fareshare.ca/volunteer/