Program Coordinators

• General Distribution Program: Susan Bruck

• Weekend Backpack Program: Lorraine Waitman

• Summer Breakfast/ Lunch Program: Susan Philliber

• Holiday Basket Program: Susan Bruck

• Children’s Holiday Baskets: Ginger Whispell & Susan Bruck

• Snack & Drink Program: Susan Bruck

• Town of Rochester Summer Program: Susan Bruck

• Town of Rochester After School Program: Susan Bruck

Officers

• Board President: Susan Bruck

• Vice President: Ginger Whispell

• Recording Secretary: Brittney Donovan

• Treasurers: Tasha Clemmer & Roseanna Smith

Board Members

• Julianna Arms

• Samantha Bruck

• Kathie Hikade

• Thomas Jackson

• Lyra Leigh-Nedbor

• Laurie Roosa

• Rich Roosa

Susan Bruck

Sue has been the Board President since 2017 and has lived in Ulster County most of her life. Her volunteering career has included leadership positions in Ulster County 4-H, the Marbletown Reformed Church, AYSO, and the Rondout Valley Central School District She is honored to work for and with the community creating lasting relationships and memories for everyone involved with an emphasis on removing all stigma from the food pantry experience.

Roseanna Smith

Roseanna Smith, Co-Treasurer moved to Stone Ridge five years ago and has been a member of the Board since 2018. It was the Backpack Program that first drew Roseanna to this wonderful organization, raising her awareness of the large number of needy families in her own neighborhood, and, following in the footsteps of current Board President (and one of Roseanna's role models) Sue, Roseanna hopes to help reduce the insecurity and stigma associated with accepting help from the food pantry. 

Julianna Arms

Julianna brings over 25 years of experience in early education and a deep passion for community service. She is currently the Director and Head Teacher at Lederman Children's Center where she enjoys working with preschool age children. In addition to her teaching career, Julianna worked as the children's librarian at the Stone Ridge Library for 24 years where she not only facilitated an interest in reading, but also created programs to support the young patrons in the community. 

Julianna has had the pleasure of living and raising her three children in this community for the past 32 years. She believes that by supporting a community through volunteering, you not only make a direct difference in the lives of others, but you build support systems, and provide a richer environment for our children."

Julianna is grateful for the opportunity to join the Board of Directors at the Rondout Valley Food Pantry. "I look forward to working alongside these dedicated individuals who share a deep commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community." 

Lyra Leigh-Nedbor

Born and Raised in High Falls, Lyra recently returned to the area after living and working in Montana. While in Montana, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA, completed a master’s degree, and had the pleasure of working for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank as the child nutrition programs coordinator. In this role she expanded the Healthy KidsPack program, piloted and implemented school pantries, and grew the Kids Summer Lunch Program. Currently, she works for the NY State Education Department in the Office of Child Nutrition Administration where she enjoys traveling the state to support and review school nutrition programs. Lyra is passionate about equitable access to nutritious food for all and is excited to serve on the board of directors.

Ginger Whispell

Ginger has been the Board Vice President since 2018. She has lived in the area her entire life. She became involved with the pantry because she strongly feels that food insecurity should not be an issue. There should never be a reason for someone to worry about having enough food for themselves or their family. She believes that everyone who needs the help should feel comfortable to come to our pantry and be able to get what they need.

Tasha Clemmer

Tasha has been Co-Treasurer since 2018. She began her career as a public school Math teacher in New York City in 2004 and is currently teaching Math for Ulster BOCES's alternative high school. She is an active member of Christ the King Episcopal Church and in her free time she enjoys gardening and spending time with her family outdoors.

Samantha Bruck

Samantha has been an RVFP Board member since 2018 and has lived in Ulster County most of her life. Her volunteering career has included leadership positions in The Nature Conservancy, The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration (HVNCVR), Ulster County 4-H, The Tim Bruck Holiday Fund, The Stone Ridge Library, The Washington Avenue Senior Residence, and Christ The King Annual Toy Drive. She is honored to work for and with the community- creating lasting relationships and memories for everyone involved, with an emphasis on removing all stigma from the food pantry experience.

Laurie Roosa

Laurie has been a Town of Marbletown resident for over thirty years. She's been a preschool teacher for seventeen years in Stone Ridge. Currently, she works with Julianna Arms as the assistant teacher at Ledermen Children's Center.

Before working in preschool, she was a one-on-one special ed assistant at Rondout Valley. She became involved with the food pantry in honor of her dad, who believed no one should go hungry. Her father was a cook in the army during the Vietnam War; he ensured that no man or child went hungry. Laurie hopes to continue giving back to her community for years to come.

Lorraine Waitman

Lorraine moved to Lomontville in 2012 following a long career at the United Nations. She started volunteering at the Food Pantry in 2014. In 2018 she began working as the Weekend Backpack Coordinator with other volunteers at the Food Pantry, and found it to be a wonderful experience. Lorraine especially loves that the pantry focuses on neighbors helping neighbors in our community.

Thomas Jackson

Tom is liaison with the Community Church of High Falls. He retired from a long career in public service, including five terms as Town Supervisor of Marbletown. His mother Ann Jackson was a long-time volunteer at the Rondout Valley Food Pantry and Tom wanted to continue her tradition of giving back to the community through serving the Food Pantry and Backpack Program.

Rich Roosa

Rich Roosa is a lifelong Marbletown resident with an extensive volunteer history, including AYSO Soccer and 43 years with the Kripplebush-Lyonsville Fire Department. Most recently he became the Vice President of The Tim Bruck Holiday Fund, a local organization that provides Christmas toys and gifts to area children.

Rich has been a volunteer with the RVFP for the last 5 years, beginning when managing COVID was the RVFP’s priority. 

Brittney Donovan

Brittney Donovan has been the Recording Secretary of the Rondout Valley Food Pantry since 2018. Born and raised in the Rondout Valley, she currently a social science researcher for Rutgers University. Brittney has extensive volunteer experience working to alleviate hunger and food insecurity throughout the United States with AmeriCorps NCCC and other non-profits. She enjoys serving in her community and making sure people are taken care of.

Susan Philliber

Susan Philiber, Coordinator of the Summer Breakfast/Lunch Program for Children, has lived in the Hudson Valley for more than 35 years. She and her husband ran the Youth Group program at the High Falls Reformed Church for more than 10 years. Before moving to the Hudson Valley she taught and ran a search unit at Columbia University in New York City. Philliber Research and Evaluation, in Accord, is a family-owned business, providing non-profits throughout the US and abroad with research assistance to measure the outcomes of their work.

Kathie Hikade

Kathie originally became involved with the Food Pantry as a volunteer driver during Covid and loved the people she worked with and the families she met. When the liaison between her church and the food pantry resigned after many years of service, Kathie agreed to take on the role serving as a board member.