meet our board

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Jacob is the Chef/Owner of Snap Pea Creative Dining, where he produces magical dining experiences in surprise locations around the Triangle, using the best local ingredients. He enjoys hosting dinner parties, singing at his synagogue, Judea Reform, or area churches, and spending time at the Eno River. He grew up primarily in Chapel Hill and left to study music at Stanford, before returning to settle in Durham. He has been volunteering at Emanuel Food Pantry every Wednesday since mid-2021.

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Pam is EFP’s Executive Director, with over 20-years experience in anti-hunger work, ranging from running one of the largest hunger prevention organizations in Northern Virginia, to working at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in Washington, DC, a national thought and advocacy leader in the fight against poverty-related hunger. She has advocated at the state level for the expansion of federal nutrition programs, and believes that access to adequate nutrition is a basic human right.

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Jodi is a native North Carolinian, a graduate of Peace College and Duke Divinity School, and has worked for 14 years in the religious nonprofit sector. Her work at Judea Reform Congregation connected her with Emanuel Food Pantry in February of 2025, and she’s been showing up almost every week since. Jodi sings with the Duke University Chorale and enjoys spending time with her cookbook club, talking to your dog, visiting a good thrift store, and traveling to new places. She is looking forward to her first year serving on the EFP Board.

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Bio and Picture coming soon

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Allison is a member of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church and began volunteering at the pantry during COVID. What started as a weekly shift grew into greater involvement, initially serving on the pantry's advisory board and now on the Board of Directors. She retired as Vice President and University Secretary from Duke University in 2008. From 2017 to 2024, she served on the Board of Trustees for the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Allison brings to the board her background in fundraising, governance, and development.

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Tina began volunteering with Emanuel Food Pantry in 2020 through Westminster Presbyterian. Drawing on her career in software engineering, she manages the pantry's technology and tools. Originally from the DC area, she studied Computer Science, Math, and Dance at Duke. Tina grew up visiting family in Venezuela and enjoys using her Spanish to assist clients in the distribution line. Passionate about providing healthy food to the community, she lives with her husband, two sons, and their dog.

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Carrie is a dedicated community member with extensive nonprofit experience. She founded and led JUST TRYAN IT and has experience as an Interim ED. She serves on the Boards of Hope Renovations (Chair) and Book Harvest. She also spends much of her time working to resettle refugees in Durham. Passionate about the pursuit of mission, community organizing, and efficiency, Carrie believes that when children have early opportunities to do good in the world, they are inspired to strive for a better tomorrow.

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Margaret has been a long-time community volunteer and respected leader with a passion for helping others. She founded the Emanuel Learning Center and served as the volunteer Co-Director of the Emanuel Food Pantry for over 5 1/2 years. After living in Spain for 7 years, she has remained fluent in Spanish, and has used those language skills to help the immigrant community in countless ways. Her greatest joy comes from serving others, and finding ways to engage volunteers in meaningful service. Margaret and Miguel have 3 children and 6 grandchildren, all dear to their hearts.

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Christina is a long-time resident of Durham and has been involved with the Food Pantry since 2021, first as a volunteer and then as a board member. When she is not helping to direct Food Pantry traffic, she works as a professor at Duke at the Sanford School of Public Policy. She lives in a half-empty nest house with her husband and one of her two sons.  A member of Blacknall Presbyterian church, she is passionate about fairness, equity, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, not necessarily in that order.

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Bio and Picture coming soon​

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Eric is Professor Emeritus of the College of Education, NC State University. He has been an active member of the Durham community since 1978. Over the course of his time in Durham he has been involved in community services, especially foodways, at many levels. He is an Extension Master Gardener working to support community gardens and a member of First Presbyterian Church. At Emanuel Food Pantry, Eric currently serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

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Joe is a retired Presbyterian minister with a deep passion for urban ministry and social ethics. A graduate of Presbyterian College and Yale Divinity School, he served as the dedicated leader of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Durham for 33 years. His commitment to the community earned him the Samuel DuBois Cook Award for his work in improving race relations. Joe also served as Board Chair for The Forest at Duke. He is the proud father of two children and has four grandchildren.​

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Bio and Picture coming soon​