Given the recent launch of our food truck, I can’t help but think a lot about driving these days: how we plan our route; the stops we make along the way; the joy we feel when we arrive at our destination.

For the past eight years, it has been the highest privilege to be in the driver’s seat here at TASK. Now, it is my turn to hand the wheel over to someone new. I have made the decision to retire at the end of 2024.

When the opportunity at TASK came about, it was a natural fit. After extensive experience as a social worker and 20 years at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton — moving from a frontline provider to overseeing the agency’s government relations and external affairs — I was already deeply invested in the people of Trenton and the challenges they face. Having served on the boards of agencies like the Anti-Poverty Network of NJ, the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness, NJ SHARES and NAMI Mercer, I was also keenly aware of the many obstacles our neighbors can encounter on the path to greater self-sufficiency.

Throughout all of these experiences, it was always my goal to provide the most caring, comprehensive services to the people in our community who needed our help. It brought me great pride and enjoyment to help empower people to tell their story to educate and influence others.

Then, in 2016, I was honored to step into the CEO role here at TASK that had been held by some of Trenton’s greatest leaders.

The decision to retire was not easy, but it was one that I made some time ago, feeling strongly that I wanted to give TASK the time to plan and prepare for a smooth transition.

Over the past 18 months, with support from The Bunbury Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, TASK has invested in board development and succession planning. Trustees, staff and patrons have all been engaged to help strengthen TASK’s governance and leadership at every level, ensuring the organization has the tools and resources it needs to continue to do the great work it’s been doing for more than 42 years.

I am more confident than ever that TASK is prepared to meet the growing, ever-evolving needs of our community.

My journey at TASK has involved many surprising detours. I could never have predicted I would be leading this organization through a global pandemic, and no one could have imagined how COVID-19 would accelerate an unprecedented rise in demand for the programs and services we offer.

Despite it all, TASK has navigated this road of unexpected twists and turns and met the challenges head-on with creativity, commitment and a can-do spirit that has never waned. I’m so proud, and I am committed to continuing to champion TASK’s good work.

I will have many more opportunities over the next few months to thank you all for the incredible work you have done to turn hunger into hope.

For now, please know that I am very grateful to have served this incredible organization. I look forward to continuing to help you and TASK put hunger in the rearview mirror, permanently.