The Women Behind Food Rescue
For Women’s History Month, we’re featuring the stories of four incredible women who have been fundamental to the development of Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Food Rescue program. Their stories inspire us every day as we work to bring nutritious food to neighbors in need. We’re grateful to share the Food Rescue stories of Val Stone, Sharron Zimmerman, Becky Mang, and Trish Fiebing.
Val Stone
"Be kinder than you need to be." This is the advice of Val Stone, Food Coalition Coordinator at Food Rescue. Throughout her 27+ years as a part of Michigan food pantry coalitions, anti-poverty programs, baby pantries, and sub-ministries, the very most important part of her work has been building meaningful relationships with individuals. These connections fueled her passion and encouraged her strong leadership to ensure that the Northwest Food Coalition survived all those years and to make certain that our neighbors in need continued to have access to healthy food through Goodwill's Food Rescue program. "No matter who we work with, the common denominator is food. Our clientele is so different – we don't know what the story is behind that face, but my goal is to meet these people where they are and not to judge, but help them in their current circumstance. Sometimes you don't think that you necessarily make a difference, but we each play a role in the betterment of our communities. I don't think it could get any better than that."
Sharron Zimmerman
Enjoying her "retirement" as Goodwill's HR Compliance Specialist since 2011, Sharron has an intriguing history and an exciting future – she's going to be a grandmother to twins at the end of April!
Sharon is a Transfusion Medical Specialist and was the Director of the Michigan Community Blood Center for 14 years. She has worked at Munson, and Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, has served as President of Michigan Association of Blood Banks (where she received the distinguished service award for furthering their mission), and has been a VISTA volunteer and employee.
After retirement, Sharron took on the volunteer position of program director of what would become Food Rescue, which has led to a second career with Goodwill Northern Michigan. "What inspired me was the dedication of that original Goodwill board. They were in it all the way! And the dedication of Bob Cullen. Their go-get-'em energy and passion was a joy to be around and an honor to work with. The community grasped the importance of what we were trying to achieve. As a community member, I applaud Cecil [McNally, former CEO of Goodwill Northern Michigan] and the Goodwill Board for their foresight in giving Food Rescue a place to live and grow. And grow it has!"
Becky Mang
We’re grateful to Becky Mang for sharing her Food Rescue story with us:
Baby boomers like me would agree that by growing up in post World War II America, we were part of the first generation of Americans introduced not to just a new, more modern way of living, but to a brand new way of eating. Families that for generations had been part of a strong family farming tradition, and scratch cooking, were sold on a brand new food culture.
Every form of media available at the time encouraged our mothers to catch on to this much improved, time saving and convenient way of shopping, preparing, and ultimately serving family meals. Foods like canned Campbell soups, Del Monte fruit cocktail, and instant Tang (preferred by the Astronauts) filled cupboards while frozen TV dinners packed our freezers. And then, of course, the ultimate time saver — fast food drive-ins like White Castle, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and McDonalds — entered the food chain.
Two things regarding the politics of food that I learned while in college remain relevant for me even today. They informed my decision to change my view of and approach to the culture of food that had become the norm in my home and was being introduced all over the world.
By supporting my neighbor farmers and their sustainable agriculture as well as purchasing from and working at our local food co-op, I could participate in a healthy food system. The Co-op movement of the 60s and 70s had enormous energy for change and I believe was the beginning for many a return to their natural food roots.
My second awakening came after I read Diet for a Small Planet, Frances Moore Lappe’s first book on the politics of food systems. She explained that the corporate food model, which included factory meat and egg production as well as a heavy reliance on the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, did not guarantee that, as promised, the world would be fed. This new model turned out to be more of a strain and less of a solution for world hunger. As Lappe said in her book, “The real cause of hunger is the powerlessness of the poor to gain access to the resources they need to feed themselves.” That book encouraged me to grow, purchase, and prepare foods that require less chemical energy, are kinder to plants and animals, and healthier to eat. She also gave me examples of how I could become less meat dependent for protein in a food culture that insisted meat was necessary for good health.
Fast forward 40 years and our community was given a chance to help start an organization that not only saved food from going to a landfill, but also offered healthy food to our local food pantries and community meal sites, as well as purchasing and distributing healthy food, grown sustainably, by our local farming community.
Goodwill Northern Michigan, the Food Rescue staff, Groundwork Center and the Northwest Michigan Food Coalition have been outstanding partners in Food Rescue’s evolution from one truck and one driver to a main food hub with a fleet of trucks and staff. We are so lucky and proud to be part of watching it grow.
Trish Fiebing
Trish Fiebing is someone who has not only been key to Food Rescue's success, but also an advocate and mentor to many girls and women of all ages in our region. Trish has been an inspiration to many and her lifetime of service was recognized in 2005 with the Athena Award.
But that didn't stop her...
In 2009, Trish was the Co-Director of Food Rescue along side Sharron Zimmerman. By prioritizing community relationships and stirring support, Trish positioned Food Rescue to become what it is today.
Trish was formally the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Traverse County, YouthFriends Coordinator at TCAPS, served on the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its Education Committee.
Trish's support Food Rescue and food assistance programs came out of her experience working with students who did not have enough food at home.
This is what folks had to say about her when she got her Athena Award:
"She is vitally interested in women, their problems, their work and their progress. One of her biggest strengths is that she always has the time and the energy to help those who ask.
"She affirms women in their present roles while encouraging them to expand, grow and seek a greater self-potential - not only professionally, but in their personal lives as well.
"She has had a lifetime of true friendships and extends herself as a friend to everyone she meets."