Our Team

GMFB Executive Director Kay Blackstock, has led the food bank for 12 years. Kay utilizes her extensive community connections, knowledge of food bank best practices, and financial acumen to deliver services in a fiscally prudent manner that helps deliver programs to those most in need. Kay has implemented several innovative programs during her tenure at the food bank including Neighborhood Fresh, Healthy Choice Boxes, and Person in Need (PIN) boxes. She has built the Empty Bowl fundraiser event into one of the largest community gatherings in northeast Georgia that focuses annually on issues related to hunger awareness and food insecurity.
Under Kay’s leadership, GMFB is guided by the belief that access to food is a basic human right and that every person regardless of race, gender, class, or creed deserves access to a healthy, nutritious diet. Kay notes, “The values we strive to uphold with our team, our volunteers, our donors, and, most importantly, those we serve can be summarized as: Service, Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Stewardship, Collaboration, and Diversity.”
Lydia Johnson
Agency Services Coordinator
Ext. 210
Email Lydia
Rebecca Thurman
Director of Operations
Ext. 211
Email Rebecca
Ronii Diaz
Administrative Assistant
Ext. 201
Email Ronii
Perla Ibarra
Neighborhood Fresh Coordinator
Ext. 202
Email Perla
Denise Bernardi
Volunteer Coordinator
Ext. 208
Email Denise
Alec Tipton
Operations Manager
Ext. 203
Email Alec
Colton Donino
Business Manager
Ext. 209
Email Colton
Bobby Leverington
Driver
Clint Frain
Driver
Benjamin Maxwell
Warehouse Orders
Board of Directors
Cheryl Jones, Board Chair
Nutrition Director, Hall County Schools
Carl Wagster, Board Vice Chair
Retired
Lauren Samples, Treasurer
Partner, Tillman, Bailey, Samples & Assoc.
Kas Lawson, Secretary
Attorney, Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar
Joy Banks
Owner, Hajoca Corporation
Brian Bailey, MBA, CFRE
Major Gifts, The Medical Center Foundation
Julie Knight-Brown
Nutrition Director, Lumpkin County Schools
Justin Burruss
Audit Supervisor, Rushton & Company
Gerald Couch
Sheriff, Hall County Georgia
Steven Ellis
Owner, Ellis & Company
Wes Hunt
CEO, Homestar Financial Corporation
Tate O’Rouke
Business Development Manager, Jackson EMC
Dr. Carly Redding
University of North Georgia
Casey Ryals
Hall County Farm Bureau Insurance
Lori Lebow
Ophthalmologist, Gainesville Eye Associates
Carly Jones
Agritourism Director, Jaemor Farms
Felix Santiago
HR Business Partner, Northeast Georgia Health Systems, Inc
Kyle Lewallen
Owner, Lews Custom Boards
George Wangeman
Gainesville City Council
Stay in the know!
Sign up to get the latest Food Bank news right to your inbox.
