JACKSON, Wyo. — After eight years of leadership, Ali Milburn, the founder and Executive Director of Hole Food Rescue (HFR) informed the Board of Directors that she would like to pursue new challenges and would be moving on from HFR. Ali will continue through February 28, 2021, as Executive Director and reinforced her commitment to enable a smooth transition.
“Looking back on where Hole Food Rescue started to where we are today, my heart feels full,” said Ali. “HFR has evolved into a change-making organization beyond my wildest dreams and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all those that have joined me in this journey.”
“We all love Ali’s passion for food rescue and thank her for eight years of service to the community,” said Board Chair Cynthia Hogan. “Partnering with Ali and our fantastic volunteers to serve our community has been a rich and rewarding experience”
Current board member and longtime HFR volunteer Lisa Lent will take over the reins beginning Nov. 1. Lisa moved to Jackson in 2017, leaving a career in retail. Her 17 years of business experience encompassed operations, financial planning, and budgeting as well as leadership and staff training. She’s been an enthusiastic HFR volunteer since 2017.
“We are excited that Lisa will be stepping in to implement our vision. With her passion for food rescue and skill in building strong relationships, we can continue to serve our clients without missing a step,” added Hogan.
HFR was founded eight years ago when Ali began climbing into dumpsters at local grocery stores looking for edible food. Finding overwhelming waste, she launched a partnership with local food donors and more than 20 recipient organizations. She expanded programs to local hotels and restaurants that close for the off-season, picking up thousands of pounds of excess food. Since its inception, HFR has rescued almost 1.5 million pounds of food.
During the throws of COVID-19, HFR and its staff proved to be nimble, implementing imaginative ways to get food to those in need. When schools closed, HFR collaborated with other local outlets, making food available with drive through pickups, no-cost grocery programs, and the “Sprout Mobile”, visiting neighborhoods with pre-prepared meals and children’s books. Ali has brought her expertise to the state level, serving on First Lady Jenny Gordon’s Hunger Initiative Board, fighting food insecurity for Wyoming children and families.
