New Fort Bragg Food Bank Executive Director Nancy Severy has high praise for the other staff members who put the flavor into the Food Bank. The staff includes Jean Jones (volunteer/client coordinator), Richard Moore (warehouseman), James Masterson (driver) and Bob Beck (warehouseman).
“Jean Jones is the friendly face of the Food Bank. She greets and serves clients and volunteers alike,” said Severy, 56. “Jean has been with the Food Bank for 11 years and knows its operations like no one else. Truly, Jean is the heart and soul of the Food Bank.”
Severy came to the Food Bank in May, replacing Laura Welter. Severy had worked 18 years at Wind & Weather, doing mail-order direct marketing and was one of the many casualties when the company was sold this year to an East Coast firm, which cut off local operations.
“When I found out that Wind & Weather was being sold to another company and that I would be losing my job, a friend asked what I would do next,” Severy said. “I didn”t have a clue. I said I wanted to do something entirely different, but use the skills that I have.”
She actually thought of being executive director of the Food Bank, but the position was filled.
“I was attracted to the mission of the Food Bank — to serve our hungry friends and neighbors. Pretty basic stuff. To my surprise, that exact job position showed up in the classified ads about three months later — so I went for it! How could I not?”
She reports to an eight-person board of directors comprised of prominent community members.
Members of the board of directors are President Bill Mertle, Secretary and Vice President Beverly Witchner, Treasurer Howard Martin, directors Betty Deutsch, Udo Nittner, Dan Fowler, Nino Pivirotto and Gloria Renteria.
Severy”s scholarly background is not what one might expect. She has a degree in soil and water science from UC Davis, and she worked four years as a soil scientist for the USDA Soil Conservation Service doing soil mapping in Lake and Mendocino counties.
“This is very different from my previous job, where I did highly focused work involving lots of numbers and computers. It”s been a joy and a challenge for me working in such a lively, multi-person, multi-tasking environment,” said Severy.
Severy is originally from the East Coast (Massachusetts and Maryland) but has lived in California for 30 years and on the coast since 1984.
She doesn”t miss those old 9 to 5 type jobs.
“I love the vitality of the Food Bank. I love the willingness of volunteers and staff to work hard to serve our clients. I love the compassion and acceptance that is demonstrated here every day.”
In what new direction will Severy take the Food Bank?
“My focus now is on retaining the vital, homespun, family feel of the Food Bank, while trying to develop some aspects of our business practice,” she said.
She said she didn”t have the perspective needed to compare her goals with those of past executive directors.
“I certainly want to continue working side-by-side with individuals and businesses in the community whose generosity and participation has been awesome. I”d also like to improve our funding by seeking out grants that would specifically support our ongoing operations.”
How to help financially
Beginning in 1995, the Advocate-News and The Mendocino Beacon began sponsoring “Season of Sharing,” an annual community fund-raiser for the Food Bank.
Of the 60 or so very worthy non-profit organizations serving our area, the newspapers” publisher, Sharon Brewer, always puts her full support behind the Food Bank”s efforts, “Because they are addressing the most basic problems facing so many — hunger.”
“We support many community causes, but the Food Bank”s cause is the one we get entirely behind,” says Brewer. “We can”t address other problems, if hunger isn”t addressed first.”
Once again the Community Foundation of Mendocino County is administering the fund-raiser free of charge, enabling all donations to directly benefit the Food Bank.
Checks should be addressed to the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC), and mailed to Advocate-News, P.O. Box 1188, Fort Bragg, 95437. Donations can also be dropped by the newspaper office, located at 450 N. Franklin St.
The newspapers provide weekly updates on the total dollars raised, with the names of contributing individuals and businesses, unless they wish to remain anonymous. The fund-raiser runs through Jan. 31.
This week”s update
Weekly updates on the total dollars raised appear in each issue, with the names of contributing individuals and businesses (unless they wish to remain anonymous) printed to keep the momentum going.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Season of Sharing had raised $1,709 Here”s the list of contributors who sent checks last week: Karen English, Kenneth and Delia Rightmier, Andrew Klacik, Hearts and Hands at Cider Creek, Frank and Shirley Collins, Carolyn Kinet and one anonymous donor.
