Lake Oswego food pantry is revamped under new leadership

Hunger Fighters Oregon, which runs a food pantry in Lake Oswego, recently welcomed a new leadership team aboard.

The nonprofit recently hired Simone Coker-Kamna as its executive director, Marlea Goulet as its pantry manager and Stacey Khoury-Diaz as its inventory manager. Coker-Kamna said Hunger Fighters previously had just one full-time employee and has added to its team so that it can better serve the community and so each employee can focus on their area of expertise.

“It’s a new team and the goal with the new team is to expand on our services. Having three staff members who are committed and able to be in the pantry will relieve some stress. My predecessors have had to run around and do everything. I will focus more on fundraising and visibility efforts while having a strong person running the pantry,” Coker-Kamna said. “It will allow us to be more thoughtful and spread our energy better.”

Coker-Kamna received a master’s degree in arts administration from the University of Oregon and worked in the nonprofit world — including for Volunteers of America Oregon — before assuming her previous role as the marketing and communications manager for Northwest Academy in Portland. There, along with her regular duties of promoting the school and communicating with community members, she worked with social services organizations like Blanchet House and Outside In to provide students with opportunities to volunteer and bring leaders to speak at the school about homelessness.

She said the pandemic, exacerbated food insecurities and the prevalence of homelessness in downtown Portland reinforced her desire to work for an organization like Hunger Fighters.

“Access to food and shelter is something nobody should be denied. Being in a position like this to directly do that work is super fulfilling to me, but I also understand the huge benefit to families who are on the brink and need to make decisions of putting food on the table, paying rent or phone bills,” Coker-Kamna said.

The new executive director noted the organization is holding a spring food drive to provide food for families of students who rely on free or reduced lunches at school during the summer months. She also noted long-term goals like increasing accessibility for non-English speakers, awareness in the community and streamlining operations so the pantry can remain sustainable. Hunger Fighters is also in the process of expanding its volunteer program and offering more opportunities for the many community members who want to help.

“We recognize there is a lot of support for Hunger Fighters in LO and we want to make sure people have the opportunity to help in ways that are beneficial,” she said.

Coker-Kamna also noted that the increased need at local food pantries, including the Hunger Fighters location, has not let up this year. The organization adding an additional shop-in opportunity each week hasn’t made things slower.

To get to know the new team and check out the pantry, the organization is hosting an open house from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at its location at 4 Monroe Parkway.