Our Mission
Food Link is working to create a more equitable food system throughout Greater Boston by rescuing and distributing high-quality, customized food to under-resourced communities and by advocating for systems change.
Our Vision
Food Link envisions a world in which everyone has abundant nourishing food and a food system in which no edible food goes to waste.
Our Core Values
Through our work, we build relationships, respond nimbly to opportunities, and prioritize the choice and autonomy of recipient agencies and their clients, thereby centering dignity for all.
“Many clients struggle with food insecurity and face increased stress and anxiety as a result. Knowing that they will have access to food on a weekly basis helps to alleviate some of these concerns and provides an opportunity for clients to focus their energy on completing action steps necessary for future food/financial security.”
— Twelve Prescott Young Adult Program
Food Link Founders
DeAnne Dupont
DeAnne Dupont founded Food Link with Julie Kremer in 2012. Food Link brings together three of DeAnne's passions: protecting the environment, reducing waste, and alleviating hunger. Her financial and operational background in the corporate sector and her experience as a CPA have been greatly beneficial in launching Food Link.
Julianna Kremer
Julianna (Julie) Kremer's passion is getting good food to people who need it. Raised in a family of great cooks with an understanding that food should never be wasted, Julie realized the impetus for co-founding Food Link, formerly the Food Recovery Project. She envisions a just food system and a healthy environment that sustains all people. Julie has a BA in Art from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Food Link has rescued more than 5 million pounds of food since founded in 2012.
Staff
Rachel Albert, Executive Director
she/her
ralbert@foodlinkma.org | 781-316-8605
Rachel has been Executive Director of Food Link since Spring of 2021. She brings to Food Link extensive nonprofit leadership experience with an affinity for times of growth and transition. Before joining Food Link, Rachel held executive positions at Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Waltham and Birches School in Lincoln.
In addition to her leadership experience, Rachel has worked as a strategy consultant to multiple mission-driven organizations, helping them navigate their challenges and achieve their goals. Her areas of expertise include leadership development, change management and measurement and evaluation. She holds graduate degrees in both business and social work from Columbia University and lives in Arlington with her family.
Delita Goodridge, Director of Finance and Administration
she/her
dgoodridge@foodlinkma.org | 781-819-4225
Delita joined Food Link in August 2022, eager to help with the food recovery program in her local community. She is fully motivated by Food Link's mission and finds it rewarding to know that she is directly impacting the lives of others in a positive way. Prior to joining Food Link, she worked in the healthcare/research industries in Boston and Cambridge.
Khadejeh Al-Rijleh, Operations and Administrative Assistant
she/her
kalrijleh@foodlinkma.org | 781-316-8600
Khadejeh joined Food Link in October 2020. Her favorite parts of the job are working with Food Link’s fantastic volunteers and staff, organizing the walk-in freezer and the nonperishables shelves, and, most of all, packing boxes of food tailored to recipients' unique preferences. She majored in Medieval Studies at Smith College.
Shannon Fitzgerald, Communications and Digital Marketing Coordinator
she/her
sfitzgerald@foodlinkma.org | 781-316-8612
Shannon joined Food Link in February 2021 as the Communications and Digital Marketing Coordinator. She received her MLA in Gastronomy from Boston University. Prior to Food Link, she worked in higher education administration at BU and in digital marketing at Branchfood.
Rose Freudberg, Volunteer Coordinator
she/her
rfreudberg@foodlinkma.org | 781-971-1868
Rose Freudberg manages Food Link’s volunteer corps of over 250+ people. She is passionate about food, health, and sustainability, and envisions a world where everyone always has enough to eat. She graduated from Brandeis University with a double major in Health: Science, Society, and Policy and Theater Arts. She has previously interned with the Newton Food Pantry.
Sam Kiss, Development and Finance Coordinator
he/his
slkiss@foodlinkma.org | 781-316-8612
Sam is Food Link's Development & Finance Coordinator. He received a degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College with minors in Peace and Social Justice and Nonprofit Communication. He is happy to work at an organization that recognizes the intersection of food justice and environmental justice and is passionate about how different social justice movements connect.
Alex Kramer, Logistics Manager
she/her
akramer@foodlinkma.org | 781-985-1714
Alex Kramer joined the Food Link staff in April 2019, but was first with Food Link as a volunteer in 2018. She studied Health Science as an undergraduate, and worked in cafes and restaurants before coming to Food Link. She is passionate about making sure people not only have access to food, but that it's healthy and fresh.
Emma Lowenstein, Senior Operations Coordinator
she/her
elowenstein@foodlinkma.org | 781-971-1276
Emma Lowenstein graduated from Simmons University with a major in Public Health focused on Sociology. She started at Food Link as an intern and immediately saw the impact the organization was making. Emma is grateful to be part of a team that shares similar core values and enjoys working closely with and learning from Food Link's vast network of volunteers and organizations.
Bridget Menkis, Operations Associate
she/her
bmenkis@foodlinkma.org | 781-526-2619
Bridget graduated from Oberlin College in 2017 and found her way to Food Link in July, 2022. Prior to joining the Food Link team, she worked in food service and then as a paralegal with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. She is excited to work toward the goal of providing access to abundant, nourishing food for everyone.
Bridget Wright, Program Assistant
she/her
bwright@foodlinkma.org | 781-819-4225
Bridget first joined Food Link as an intern helping out in Food Rescue operations. She was excited to work with an organization helping to reduce food waste and quickly realized the reward of helping to feed people. Bridget quickly became a valuable member of the team because of her willingness to help and her ability to get food organized! She’s a curious person who always loves learning about different types of food and different cultural cuisines.
“It's incredible to help reduce food waste by making it accessible to communities that could benefit from it instead of wasting it. Our residents appreciate being a part of this system that limits food waste!”
— WinnCompanies
Consultants
Colonial Bookkeeping & Tax, Inc
Learn more about Colonial Bookkeeping & Tax, Inc. on their website.
Lisa Pedulla, Silver Birch Consulting, LLC
Lisa brings 20 years of hospitality sales and marketing and 17 years of fundraising experience to her business. Lisa specializes in grant writing and research, major donor development and capital campaigns for small non-profits. Lisa worked for 20 years in Sales and Marketing for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry and 10 years in Higher Education as a frontline fundraiser securing leadership and major gifts for Lasell College’s $10 Million Campaign, New England Conservatory’s $100 Million Gift of Music Campaign, and Northeastern University’s $1 Billion Empower Campaign. At Silver Birch Consulting, Lisa applies her sales, marketing, and fundraising skills to help nonprofits and political campaigns build their donor base and deepen their existing relationships with funders. Lisa holds a B.A. in Economics and an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Larry Slotnick
Larry started out as a manufacturing and facilities engineer with firms such as Intel and Raytheon in the 1980s, then migrated into marketing and business strategy in the realm of startups, both for- and nonprofit. He was a Board member and Executive Director of MassBike (1990s), founding employee of Zipcar (2000), co-founded LivableStreets Alliance (2005), co-founded Taza Chocolate (2006) He became an early volunteer (2015) , Facilities advisor/Project Mgr to co-founders (2018) , and now Facilities Manager at Food Link (2021-Present.) Larry's been an Arlington resident since 2008, member and now co-chair of the Recycling/Zero Waste Committee since 2016, Town Meeting Member since 2018, and is a Board member of the nonprofit new website YourArlington. He lives in East Arlington with his wife Elizabeth Rocco and a pair of middle and high schoolers.
Elise Springuel, BananaBox Consulting
Elise Springuel is a Program Evaluation and Strategic Planning consultant with 15 years of experience in food systems and nonprofit work. A former Food Link Staff member, she now provides strategic advising and program evaluation services for the organization. Her focus is on helping nonprofits plan programs that are guided by both data and they people they serve. Elise holds a MSW from Boston College with a focus on Social Innovation and Change Management.
“We take the time to get to know our recipients and send the food that is culturally and age appropriate.”
— Nancy, Food Link Volunteer
Board of Directors
Nora Mann, Chair she/her
Former, Deputy Chief of the Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division, Massachusetts Office the Attorney General
Nora is a veteran lawyer who has worked throughout her career to enhance public/private partnerships that keep our communities strong. After beginning her career at a law firm, Nora transitioned to government service both in the office of the Middlesex District Attorney and the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General. Nora brings to the Food Link board 20+ years of legal and management experience with non-profits.
Julianna Kremer, Vice President & Co-Founder she/her
Former Business Manager, TEMPO Television (now TCI)
Julianna Kremer, Co-Founder of Food Link (2012), Governance Committee Chair, joined the board in 2014 when Food Link incorporated. She is a regular volunteer. Prior to Food Link, Julie had extensive volunteer experience with school and religious organizations. Professionally, she has both a culinary and management background. Julie enjoys cooking, hiking, camping and biking with her family.
Annie LaCourt, Treasurer she/her
Principal, Narrow Bridge Consulting
Annie LaCourt is a long time resident of Arlington with a passion for community, civic engagement, and fighting environmental issues. She just ended her final term on the Arlington Education Foundation Board and thought Food Link’s mission fit her own and would be a great next step. She is an information systems consultant focused on helping non-profits and hopes to bring her experience with helping organizations grow through fundraising, financial management, and data analysis to Food Link.
Matthew Osborne-Smith, Clerk he/him
Director, Business Development at Community Catalyst
Matthew is a global health and nonprofit management professional with twenty years of experience encompassing work in over twenty countries and on a range of health programs, including food security. Prior to his current role. he worked at John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Partners In Health, Mercy Corps, and U.S. Peace Corps. Over his career, Matthew has focused on scaling partnership-based solutions to systemic problems. He intends to bring this lens to Food Link. Matthew has an MBA in global health from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Judi Bohn she/her
Special Projects Coordinator, Facing History and Ourselves
Judi Bohn currently works for Facing History and Ourselves, an international educational non profit. Judi has been an educator for over 30 years; she worked for the Arlington Public Schools, Office of the Superintendent from 1996-2009 as a grant writer and program developer and founded the Pre-School PTA (now the Arlington Family Connection) and the Arlington Education Foundation, which provides strong financial support for teachers in the district.
Wei Hu she/her
Senior Scientist, Blueprint Medicines
Wei Hu is a biopharmaceutical industry professional with more than 20 years of experience. Her works on multiple therapies have led to their market approval to benefit patients. Wei regularly volunteers at her church, local garden club, youth organization, and in Chinese American communities. She is excited to join Food Link and to bring more people on board of its mission.
Sandeep Jain he/him
Commercial Loan Officer, Leader Bank
Sandeep Jain currently works for Leader Bank, a community bank based in Arlington, MA. Sandeep has over a decade of experience in commercial lending. Over his career, he has helped hundreds of small businesses and non-profits get access to capital and expand their businesses. He intends to bring that experience to help Food Link grow. He enjoys going to the beach and spending time with his family. He holds an MBA and an MS in Accounting from Clark University.
Irene Lee she/her
Product Manager at Peloton Interactive, Inc
Irene is a Product Manager at Peloton, focusing on new product innovation in the strength category. Prior to her current role, Irene worked in Product Management at iRobot, guiding advanced development of new robotic platforms and launching new products globally. Irene was thrilled to join Food Link shortly after moving to Arlington, MA, as a way to connect with her new community while supporting a mission she is passionate about. She is a regular Food Link volunteer. In her spare time, Irene likes to paint and create mixed media art, travel, try new recipes, and go on adventures with her small dog.
Paul Levine he/him
Retired
Paul Levine has been a regular Food Link volunteer since 2017. Paul's background is a blend of high-tech engineering, engineering business leadership, venture capital, and business education. He brings organizational governance experience to Food Link, as he has previously served on the boards of both public and private companies and on the board of a not-for-profit professional theater. These days, he looks for ways he can help serve the needs of the community, and he shares his commitment to the Food Link mission with time volunteering at a local hospital.
Shoba Reginald she/her
Science Teacher, Belmont Public Schools
Shoba Reginald is a veteran science teacher working in the Belmont Public Schools. As a naturalized citizen, she has always wanted to give back to her adopted country. She particularly enjoys volunteering with Food Link as it works to both address food insecurity and climate change. She lives in Lexington with her husband and has two adult children who both live locally. She enjoys the beach, hiking and being with family and friends.
Donna VanderClock she/her
Retired Town Manager
Donna VanderClock is a Waltham resident and a regular Food Link volunteer, which began with her retirement from a 39-year career in local government management. She is grateful to have found a way to continue being of service through her work at Food Link, helping to address the dual goals of food insecurity and environmental sustainability.