Co-directors named to lead Food Closet

Two employees will take charge of the Carson Valley Community Food Closet as co-directors after the departure of longtime Director Sarah Sanchez.

Warehouse Manager Traci Votel and Financial Coordinator Cynthia Rodriguez took the helm of 35-year-old nonprofit on April 1.

“I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter at the Food Closet with an innovative, 21st century approach to nonprofit management,” said Votel. “Watching this place grow from the time I was a volunteer, to a management role, and now co-leading it into the future could not be more gratifying.”

A team-based approach to nonprofit management is something that has taken hold in recent years in nonprofits across the country. Food Closet Board of Directors Chairman Mike Morton said he has been continually impressed with Sanchez’s work.

“I’m proud to say that the Food Closet is a stalwart institution of service here in the Carson Valley,” said Morton. “But that doesn’t mean that we need to turn a blind eye to change and innovation. Since joining the Food Closet in various capacities, Cynthia and Traci have always had an eye to growth and advanced financial management, and the entire Board of Directors has no doubt that they both will lead this agency into a healthy future.”

Currently, the Food Closet is actively expanding the ways in which it serves its current clients, as well as ensuring that those individuals whose food insecurity needs are currently being unmet can be reached. The Board of Directors, in conjunction with Votel and Rodriguez, are looking to expand the Food Closet’s reach with food lockers that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as diversifying its service model to give clients more choices in the foods that they receive. “Traci and I are ready to channel our passion for the Food Closet and its mission into serving even more members of our community,” said Rodriguez. “It is our goal that these new changes and additions meet the needs of all of our friends and neighbors here in Douglas County.”

With this new team-based leadership model, the Food Closet is currently searching to hire a client and volunteer supervisor to complete its staff. The job description can be found at thefoodcloset.org/employment.