Austin Hunt, Founder and CEO – austin@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Hometown: Vero Beach, FL
David Flynt, Executive Director, St. Lucie County – david@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Hometown: Vero Beach, FL
What motivates you to help your community: Matthew 25, James 2 Aside from helping your community, what else do you like to do: Fishing, Reading, Playing softball with my daughter, and spending time with my wonderful family.
Quote to live by: “You can always fit one more” – a David Flynt original and “Courage is not the lack of fear, Courage is acknowledging fear, but moving forward in spite of it.”
Jennifer Trotter, Program Director – jennifer@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Education: BA Florida Atlantic University with additional training in Social Services
Hometown: Military Brat but now in Vero
What motivates you to help your community? I truly believe that Social Service is a calling. I wake up happy to go to work every day.
Aside from helping your community, what else do you like to do: Spend time with my children, play the piano and fiddle around on the computer.
Quote to live by: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Mahatma Gandhi
Vicki Hoyos, Development Director St. Lucie County –vickih@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Hometown: Native Floridian...2 3/4 generations
Education: Life
What motivates you to help your community: Knowing that God loves us all the same and that it breaks his heart to see children and families suffer.
Aside from helping your community, what else do you like to do: Spend time with my family. They are very precious to me and life is so short.
Quote to live by: "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
Sharon Griffith, Case Worker St. Lucie County – compassionfb@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Education: I attended Vero Beach Senior High School; but graduated from Ft. Pierce Westwood due to my mother remarrying and relocating during my senior year. I was listed in "Who's Who Among American High School Students".
Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida. (life-long resident)
What motivates you to help your community: I'm motivated to help others because of "personal" barriers that I overcame in my life. I've had "on hand" experiences with several agencies and I believe in the "hand-up” not “hand-out" model. Serving our community and allowing the clients to receive food and hope inspires me to show my true compassion and in return trust and participation from the clients. Harvest is not just a pantry, it's a Program.
Quote to live by: "If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten. Strive for...and...Make a Change". -Author Unknown
Dona Olinger, Volunteer Director St. Lucie County – dona@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Education: BA from Gettysburg College, Certified Grief and End of Life Counselor, Ordained Inter-Faith Minister
Hometown:Salisbury, CT, Gettysburg PA, and Fort Pierce, FL
What motivates you to help your community: I do this work because I feel called to a life of service.
Quote to live by: “Be Here Now” -Ram Das
Jennifer Jones, Development Director Indian River County – jjones@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Education: I have my BFA in Advertising Design…but mostly my education has been from life experiences and strong women in my family.
Hometown: Born in West Palm Beach – Home town would be between Verona, New Jersey and Clearwater, Florida. I use to split my time ½ and ½ growing up.
What motivates me to help in the community? Just knowing that with the smallest gesture…..I have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life.
Quote to live by……Hmm….That is really hard – I am not one for cliches…. "In believing in others, we are believed in. In supporting others, we gain followers, and in recognizing the value of others, we are honored." -- Solon B. Cousins
Debbie Catapano, Case Worker Indian River County – compassionvb@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Education: A.S. in Business Administration from IRSC 12 years experience assisting families to become self sufficient
Hometown: Having been born and raised in Vero Beach this community consists of my family and friends.
What motivates you to help your community? I have benefited greatly from the many organizations and mentors I had along the way and wanted to
be able to give back to the community that gave me so much.
Quote to live by: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Amber Taliaferro, South Vero Manager – amber@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Hometown: The Treasure Coast
What motivates you? My personal life experiences, things I've gone through, and situations I was able to rise above motivate me to help my
community.
Quote to live by: Love to live, live to love!
Lisa Colby, Bookkeeper – accounting@harvestfoodoutreach.org
Hometown: New York, New York
What motivates you to help your community? The opportunity to help others or make the world a better place. Work is not a job, but a mission. Our activities or efforts ultimately have a positive impact on people.
Quote to live by: I remind myself that every day is a gift. I remember that all of life's challenges are opportunities to grow and learn. We only get one shot so we must remember it all goes by quickly. Enjoy each day!
Our Board of Directors
Don Drinkard, Chair
Paul Becker, Vice Chair
Alex Brown
Jorge Colon
Dan Corrigan
Wesley Davis
Gayle D’Haeseleer
Lee Holland
Chet Lasell
Gary Roberts
Sandra Robinson
Ed Simmons
Dan Zink