It's Americorps week, so each day we're featuring one of the dedicated Americorps members currently serving with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle! Today, meet Sarah Paxson, our Cooking Matters Coordinator, who is primarily responsible for Cooking Matters Programming, including outreach to community agencies and increasing our number of classes and participants served. Additionally, Sarah is working on developing Cooking Matters program management skills, including budget tracking, agency outreach, and program communications.
Prior to working for Cooking Matters, Sarah attended college at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and in the years since, has been working in the international development world with non-profits such as Samaritan’s Purse and Wine to Water, having the opportunity to travel and work in places like Uganda, Rwanda, Honduras, and Haiti. Sarah lives in Chapel Hill, NC with her husband.
What made you decide to become an AmeriCorps member?
My husband and I had just moved to the Triangle, and I was looking for an opportunity to get to know and serve the community I was now a part of. After four years in the nonprofit sector, I wanted to apply the skills and experience that I had acquired in a more direct and tangible way. Serving as an AmeriCorps member, you see your impact immediately and it’s incredibly satisfying.
What has been your best moment working for IFFS so far?
Every moment is progressively better, from exposing children to foods they’ve never experienced before to interacting with our fun and feisty senior citizens during class. My job works with a broad range of people, and those collective moments have been my best moments.
What do you like to do when you’re not working to end hunger?
I’m constantly experimenting with food, riding my bike, practicing yoga, and exploring all that North Carolina has to offer.
What’s your favorite movie?
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
What would your last meal be?
Guacamole and pita chips, a handful of fresh cherries, Brie cheese paired with apple slices, and… a chocolate. Plenty of chocolate.