By addressing food insecurity with compassion and dignity, we help create a brighter future for Central Oregon.

Meet our Team

Working together to feed our neighbors in need.

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Portrait of a middle-aged man with light brown hair, beard, blue eyes, wearing a white shirt and a dark suit jacket, against a plain white background.

Executive Director

  • I’m honored to serve as Executive Director of The Giving Plate. This organization has built something sacred in our community - a place where dignity, generosity and practical help converge. 

    My commitment is to strengthen the mission, support our staff and volunteers, and ensure every resource entrusted to us directly serves our neighbors in need.

    A random fact about me is that I lived in Japan for some years and can speak Japanese!

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A woman with long brown hair and glasses smiling while sitting on a teal chair. She is wearing a black T-shirt with white text, and a plant with large green leaves is visible in the background.

Store
Manager

  • What I love most about working at The Giving Plate is the privilege of knowing our guests!  I enjoy the simple things like a smile filled greeting from a child coming to Kids Korner or a story about a man’s best furry friend and I cherish the moments when our guests share their trials and their triumphs.  

    Feeding hope is about creating space for someone to express their story, it's about affirming them while reminding them that their current challenges are just one chapter, it’s about offering encouragement, so they can navigate their journey with renewed strength and optimism. 

    Hard to choose just one random fact about me…I am a quilter, more artsy than traditional.  Perhaps best known for learning the rules of quilting only to break them!

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Illustration of a tomato.

Operations
Manager

Outline illustration of a pear.

  • I love working at The Giving Plate.  It is such a beautiful work environment working with the very best people. and getting to help people on top of that is the best feeling. We are truly a family here.

    Feeding Hope means not just feeding people with food but feeding their hearts as well, meeting them where they are in the moment.  Letting them know that they are cared for and loved. 

    A Random fact about me is I'm from Aurora Illinois and My parents and brothers and myself were all born there in the same hospital.

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Community Store Inventory & Logistics Lead

Illustrations of two blackberries.

  • What do you love most about working for The Giving Plate?

    What I love about The Giving Plate is the warm sense of welcome, belonging and compassion that can be felt in the presence of The Giving Plate community. From the volunteers to the guests, everyone involved contributes to a shared atmosphere of care —and you can truly feel it when you walk through the door.

    What does feeding hope mean to you?

    To me, feeding hope can look like cultivating a space where we can all meet each other where we are at, where we hold kindness and support for one another, and practice living out of love. Hope is about seeing pathways and feeling empowered to look toward a brighter tomorrow; even in the face of hardship. Feeding hope is to lean into and share those opportunities in connection with others.

    What is a random fact about you?

    After being inspired by the rich culture of local food and art in Vermont, I returned to my small hometown in Colorado and launched a summer market. The market partnered with nearby farms to offer fresh produce and provided a platform for community members to share their handmade goods and artwork. At the time, our town didn’t have a farmers market, so the community’s excitement and participation were truly heartening!

A young man with a long beard wearing a black cap, glasses on top of his cap, and a black T-shirt with white text and a graphic logo. He is sitting on a blue chair with a large green plant nearby, in an indoor setting with neutral-colored walls.

Warehouse
Lead

A black and white illustration of a watermelon slice with seeds and a striped rind.

  • I love working at The Giving Plate because supporting the people around you is the best investment anyone can make, and that's what I enjoy doing! Not to mention all of my amazing friends I get to work with on the daily! Food is also an absolute necessity and giving access to grocery items, produce, dairy, and eggs, you’ve got yourself a full pantry at home and full bellies as well. 

    Feeling hope is something that no one wants to go through, let alone think about, until you are hopeless and you need support. For some people support comes easy from friends or family neighbors even, but for others it can be a bit challenging or seemingly impossible. Whatever the need is big or small, The Giving Plate can be that thing that fills those gaps or gives you a shoulder to lean on, or to just be present in the moment. 

    One random fact about me: Hmm, so many to choose from. If I had to pick one, it would have to be that despite being surrounded by confectionary desserts and pastries galore, I have in fact lost interest in sweet treats. But that’s ok, that means there’s more for you guys!

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Development
Manager

  • What I love most about working with The Giving Plate is the opportunity to serve my community alongside an incredible team. 

    To me, feeding hope means addressing not just hunger, but also the deeper needs of our guests.

    A fun fact about me: In 3rd grade, my favorite teacher, Brian Horne, moved up to 4th grade to stay with students he connected with, including me. He nicknamed me "Ramona" after Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and we still keep in touch today.

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Green illustrations of a grapefruit, cut in half.

Programs
Manager

  • What do you love about working with The Giving Plate?  

    I love connecting with so many people- from our volunteers, guests, to staff. I am so grateful to be a part of such a welcoming, kind community! 

    What does feeding hope mean to you?

    Feeding hope means uplifting people when they need it most. With empathy and support, you can make others feel seen and valued.

    What is a random fact about you?

    I love to climb at Smith Rock!

A woman with curly, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes smiling while sitting on a teal chair next to a large green leafy plant against a plain white wall.

Volunteer
Lead

  • I love working alongside like minded individuals who share a genuine heart to serve. Together, we create a supportive and compassionate environment where making a difference in others' lives is our collective mission.  It's inspiring to be part of a team that is unified by purpose and driven by the desire to uplift those facing a hard season. 

    Feeding hope means more than just providing food; it's about creating a supportive environment helping those in need get through these tough moments with dignity.

    A random fact about me: I love being outdoors enjoying nature and spend my free time hiking whenever I can.

To contact a team member of The Giving Plate, please email info@thegivingplate.org.

The gift of hope

JOIN US in reimagining HUNGER in Central Oregon

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Line drawing of a pear.
Find ways to spread hope
Two women shopping in a grocery store with shelves of produce and other food items in the background. The store has decorative hanging green plants and a wall with the words "Fight Hunger Feed Hope".

INTERESTED in VOLUNTEERING with us?

Find out more information here