Gary Thurm, Sarah Sanchez and Karen Beckerbauer at the July 26, 2018, groundbreaking for the new location of the Carson Valley Community Food Closet.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
After 11 years, the director of the Carson Valley Food Closet is taking a job with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
Sarah Sanchez’s resignation is effective Feb. 23, according to a release issued on Monday afternoon.
“Leaving an organization that I deeply care about is never easy, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to each volunteer and donor for their tireless efforts and commitment to end food insecurity in our communities,” Sanchez said. “I am thrilled that my new role at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada will allow me to maintain a level of involvement with the Food Closet.”
Sanchez has overseen more than a decade of growth, including moving into a building constructed for the purpose and an increase in services offered by the Food Closet.
She will be director of programs and community engagement, which will still keep her connected to the Food Closet, Board of Directors Chairman Mike Morton said.
“Sarah’s vision for this organization during her tenure here has been unmatched,” said Morton. “Just in the past year, our client base has almost doubled on a monthly basis, and not only did Sarah lead our strong group of staff and volunteers to handle that increase on a daily basis, but never lost focus on continually expanding our services and reach into the hardest hit pockets of our communities.”
During Sanchez’s time at the helm of the nonprofit, she oversaw the Food Closet’s growth from its existing 2,500 square foot shared building to a 10,000 square foot warehouse, distribution, and teaching facility, which included a $3 million capital campaign. She also expanded the organization’s ability to reach out to Douglas County’s Spanish-speaking communities, partnered with public health entities to offer wrap around services to clients, and created the Food Closet’s home delivery program.
“When I joined the Board of Directors in 1998, I never could have envisioned how this organization has grown, especially under Sarah’s leadership,” said Cynthia Sawyer, the longest-serving member of the board of directors. “While we will all miss Sarah dearly, she has set up the Food Closet for so much success.”
The Board is currently conducting a search for its next executive director, and Morton is optimistic about what is to come.
“The Board is quite confident in the Food Closet’s 35 years of service here in the Carson Valley, and is excited to see how the next Executive Director leads us in continuing to end food insecurity in Douglas County in the future.”
