LOVELAND, Colo. — July 6, 2024 — CEO Amy Pezzani celebrates her 20th anniversary this month in leading the Food Bank for Larimer County and an even longer legacy in fighting hunger.
Amy started as the Food Bank for Larimer County’s executive director on July 6, 2004, and brought a wealth of leadership experience in food banking having formerly served as the director of the Ozarks Harvest Food Bank in Springfield, Missouri.
With a vision for change, Amy’s ground-breaking practices, true leadership, and unwavering support for those the Food Bank serves have paved the way for transformation, positioning the Food Bank for Larimer County as one of the top human services organizations in the county.
“When I first stepped into the world of food banking, I inherited a system that operated based on providing any food available to those in need without much consideration for its nutritional value,” she said. “It became evident that simply filling empty stomachs with any available food wasn’t enough; we needed to ensure the food we provided was nourishing and conducive to long-term health.”
Of the food distributed by the Food Bank today, 40% is made up of fruits and vegetables.
Crucial to making sure people would have access to more nutritious food was the inception of the Fort Collins Fresh Food Share. This no-cost market has empowered clients to choose the food they want, including being able to select from a variety of produce. Responding to a growing need in the Loveland community, Amy opened a second no-cost market, the Loveland Fresh Food Share, in 2006.
The Fresh Food Shares now make up part of the Food Bank’s expansive programs to fight hunger. Besides the no-cost markets, the Food Bank has more than 120 agency partners that it provides food to, expanding outreach to rural and mountain communities. The Food Bank also teaches good nutrition and budgeting practices through Cooking Matters courses and offers an outreach support team to help people navigate and get signed up for SNAP benefits. Out of its Nutritious Kitchen, the team also partners with Volunteers of America to distribute meals to seniors.
Thinking back on his years working with Amy, Board of Directors Chair Mark Driscoll said that when the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, he saw her go “a thousand miles an hour” to prepare and adapt to ever-changing policy. Her ability to guide the Food Bank’s no-cost markets to curbside pick up in a matter of days allowed clients to continue to safely get food during that time.
“I have many favorite memories of Amy, but that one was my favorite because she was a true genuine successful leader,” Mark said.
When Sandy Bowden first started operating the Food Bank in 1984, she knew that a hunger-free Larimer County could not be achieved without the participation of her community. As CEO, Amy has embodied this. At every level, she continues to engage and inspire stakeholders, whether they’re a volunteer, donor, staff member, client, or community member. By involving the community in these initiatives, she ensures the solutions offered are both relevant and effective, fostering a sense of ownership and inclusivity.
With an eye on continuing to grow the Food Bank’s operations to better and more equitably address the complexities of food insecurity, Amy’s leadership continues to give the Food Bank the ability to keep pace with demand at a time when need for services is continuing to rise.
Board of Directors Secretary Rollin Goering said he’s grateful for the way Amy has led the Food Bank throughout her tenure. “She is wonderful,” Goering said. “The people of our community would not be fed the way that they’ve been fed over the last 20 years without her.”
