Dear Friends of West Suburban Community Pantry,
Today, I announced that Executive Director Laura Traut Coyle plans to leave her position in the coming months to pursue a lifelong career interest that allows her to keep supporting missions she is passionate about while having flexibility for her family. She plans to serve a variety of non-profit leaders as a consultant. Laura informed the Board of her intentions at the end of 2021 and the Board is currently undertaking a search for her replacement. We have met with Pantry staff and volunteers to inform them. Laura has agreed to staying engaged with the Pantry throughout the transition.
We are grateful for Laura’s outstanding leadership as we transformed West Suburban Community Pantry. The impact of COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of our work and Laura’s ability to move the Pantry to new levels of service positioned us to weather the storm and support our communities. The growth we’ve experienced in a short period of time and the strong partnerships and team that she has cultivated are a testament to her leadership.
Under Laura’s leadership, the Pantry has nearly doubled the number of individuals and families it serves; navigated delivering service to nearly three times as many people in need during the pandemic; launched its first in-school pantry in Romeoville; renovated the Pantry Store, warehouse and office space; and launched online food ordering through its Virtual Food Pantry. The Board and Leadership Team are committed to continue expanding and optimizing services to DuPage and Will County residents through on-site shopping, nutrition and well-being education and resources, remote pantry locations, senior home delivery, and the expansion of the Virtual Food Pantry program.
Laura wants you to know that she has been honored to work alongside so many committed leaders who share a similar vision of a community without hunger. Together, we have charted a path to achieve food security for our neighbors and we’ve successfully brought to life so many things that were just ideas a few short years ago. She conveyed her pride in what the Pantry has achieved, and she truly believes that the organization is just beginning to blossom in service to the community.
The needs of individuals facing food insecurity in the community continue to grow. The search is underway to find an Executive Director who excels at strategic leadership, relationship building, and team development who can take the organization’s vision of a community without hunger to the next level. We hope to have that individual in place this summer.
Thank you for your continued support of our critical mission to end hunger.
Sincerely,
Kevin Delano, Chairman of the Board of Directors
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