Amy Podlesak has spent the last four years managing the hunger relief partnerships of Land O’Lakes. Now, she brings that experience to FFEN’s board of directors.
“The reason I care so much about this area is my kids,” Podlesak said. “When I think about childhood hunger and families who don’t have enough food to eat or parents going hungry because they’re feeding their kids… it hits me right at my core. Everyone deserves access to the food they need each day to not just live, but to thrive.”
At Land O’Lakes, where Podlesak serves as the community relations and foundations manager, she has been intentional about engaging with hunger relief partners to more deeply understand how the company can support their efforts. Additionally, through Leadership Twin Cities with the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, she spent 10 months exploring the sector, meeting with program leaders, food shelves and food banks to further understand the intricacies. To get firsthand experience, she volunteers at Keystone Community Services food shelf.
Podlesak said she sees the compounding benefit of FFEN.
“I see FFEN as this entity that can collectively bring all of these programs together, supporting the entire network as a voice for food shelves and help them get the most out of what they’re trying to do for their communities.”
She is looking forward to her role on FFEN’s board and seeing the sector from another vantage point.
“What I hope to do each day is somehow try to make somebody’s life a little bit better,” she said. “That’s why I work in this space, that’s why I joined the board, that’s why I care so much about our nonprofit community here in Minnesota.”
