Food & Friends “is in really good hands” with new executive director Carrie Stoltzfus
A dedication to community service motivates Carrie Stoltzfus in her work for Food & Friends
“Ever since I’ve worked for Food & Friends, starting as the delivery volunteer coordinator, I’ve gotten to meet all of these people who care about their community, and want to help take care of other people they haven’t met and don’t know,” says Carrie Stoltzfus, director of program services for Food & Friends. “It’s what’s kept me here for so long.”
Stoltzfus, who has been with the organization for 15 years, was recently named the successor to longtime executive director Craig Shniderman, who is leaving his position at the end of December after 24 years. For Stoltzfus, Food & Friends’ mission of providing prepared meals and nutrition counseling to those suffering from debilitating or life-threatening illnesses remains close to her heart.
“We meet people at a time where they’re vulnerable,” she says. “We love to see people get better and transition off Food & Friends, but we also want to be there for people for whom that’s not their story or their path.
“It can be really hard, but there’s also a lot of joy in this work, and that’s what gets you through it,” she continues. “It’s an honor to be there for someone at a difficult time in their life. And the feedback that we hear from people who receive these meals, or will write or call after their loved one has passed away and talk about how we helped the family, that’s the energizing factor that gets you through the sad times.”
For Shniderman, leaving is bittersweet, but he has the utmost confidence in Stoltzfus taking the helm.
“Food & Friends has been such an instrumental part of my life for 24 years that it’s hard to separate who I am from it,” he says. “[But] I’m thrilled that Carrie is going to be the next director. She is an extraordinary person and an extraordinary professional, and is really in deep with the mission of Food & Friends. I know that the future of the organization is in really good hands with her.”
Food & Friends is located at 219 Riggs Rd. NE in Washington, D.C. For more information, call 202-269-2277 or visit foodandfriends.org.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
