Who We Are

Willing Hands is driven by a strong and wide network of volunteers, donors, staff, board members, and partner organizations. Their generosity, dedication, and wisdom is essential to our success.

Staff

Operations Manager
Chris Castles
chris@willinghands.org
Manager of Programs
Sara Cavin
sara@willinghands.org
alec
Gleaning & Food Recovery Coordinator
Alec Fannin
alec@willinghands.org
sunflower
Delivery Driver
J Green
Delivery Driver & Glean Leader
Peter Griggs
Farming Coordinator
Molly McBride
Delivery Driver
Gordon McKusick
Christine
Community Engagement Coordinator
Christine Savage
christine@willinghands.org
volunteer@willinghands.org
Warehouse & Delivery Coordinator
Tim Sevigny
tim@willinghands.org
Administrative Coordinator
Beth Svahn-Monroe beth@willinghands.org
Warehouse Coordinator
Scott Trombley
scott@willinghands.org
Farming Coordinator
Mikey Van Siclen
mikey@willinghands.org
Executive Director
Gabe Zoerheide
director@willinghands.org

Volunteer Leader Gleaning
Carolyn Frye 
gleaning@willinghands.org

Volunteer Delivery
Truck Driver

Andrew Cliburn



Board of Directors

Willing Hands has a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors who are proud to support this vital organization.

Leslie Rimmer — President 

Leslie is the Director of People, Culture & Technology at the Upper Valley Haven where she sees firsthand the benefits of the fresh food Willing Hands provides to thousands of our neighbors in the Haven’s Food Shelf and the Café. Leslie transitioned to the non-profit sector in 2011 after spending 24 years at RSG in White River Junction. Prior to the Haven, she worked at the Student Conservation Association and the Upper Valley Land Trust. She lives in Norwich and also serves on the Norwich Public Library board.

Johanna Mirenda — Vice President

Johanna works in public service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program after 13 years in the nonprofit sector supporting organic agriculture through certification, advocacy, policy development, research and education. Jo started volunteering in the Willing Hands gardens in 2014 and joined the Board in 2017. She lives in Wilder, Vermont with her husband Jason and dog Moose.

Janet Hardy – Secretary

Janet spent most of her career conducting snow research and managing CRREL’s Antarctic program.  She now volunteers for some of her favorite local non-profits, including Windsor County Mentors, Willing Hands, Upper Valley Haven, and Dismas House.  She is continually in awe of, and very grateful for, the tremendous impact that Willing Hands has in our community. Janet lives in Norwich where she enjoys both her new hobbies, beekeeping and fly fishing, and her lifelong passions for nordic skiing, hiking, kayaking and being active outdoors. 

Shari McLaughlin, CPA – Treasurer

Shari McLaughlin, CPA, is a Tax Manager at Gallagher, Flynn & Co., LLP. Shari joined the Board of Willing Hands in 2020 and is Treasurer and Finance Committee member. Shari holds B.S.  (Finance) and Masters (Accounting) from UVM and is proud mom of Jake and Abby, both alumni of The Sharon Academy and UVM. Shari lives in Stockbridge, Vermont, with her husband, Paul. They enjoy downhill skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, hiking in the spring and fall, and sailing Paul’s Nacra catamaran on Lake Champlain in the summers. Shari also volunteers at the Upper Valley Haven.

Laurie Beyranevand

Laurie Beyranevand – Director

Laurie J. Beyranevand is the Director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and a Professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School. She has devoted her career to using law and policy to advance social justice and improve public health. As a first generation Iranian American with Appalachian roots, diverse food and culture have always been prominent in Laurie’s life symbolizing the power of food in bringing people together. Laurie lives in Woodstock with her husband, two children, and a mischievous but adorable dog.

Gary Brooks – Director

Gary Brooks practiced law in the Upper Valley for 40 years, specializing in trusts and estates and corporate law. In addition, before his retirement in 2020, he was Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the General Practice Program at Vermont Law School. He has served on numerous boards and he helped form Opera North in 1982 and served as its first President. He has been a Willing Hands volunteer and has a strong interest in all efforts to address food insecurity.

 

Amanda Charland

Amanda Charland – Director

Amanda is the General Manager of the Co-op Food Stores and Auto Service Centers. She has been with the Co-op for more than a decade and continues to be passionate about finding innovative ways to support our Upper Valley community through cooperative business practices. Prior to joining the Co-op, Amanda worked in the environmental non-profit sector, primarily focused on climate education. She holds a BS in ecology and a Masters of Cooperative Management from Sobey School of Business at St. Mary’s University. During her free time, Amanda can usually be found in the great outdoors with her family, typically riding her mountain bike or shredding the slopes on a snowboard. 

Rebecca Hooper Holland – Director

Becky Hooper is a Library Assistant and Yoga Instructor who has 10 years experience in Non-Profit Development and Communications at The Vermont Institute of Natural Science and Grassroot Soccer. Prior to her non-profit work, she spent two seasons working in Operations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Becky grew up on a vegetable and flower farm in Vermont and believes that access to fresh, local food is vital to healthy lives and communities. She lives with her husband, two rambunctious boys and their blind dog in Hanover, NH.

Saranya Loehrer – Director

Saranya works at the intersection of health care, improvement, and advocacy. Her efforts focus on mobilizing health and health care leaders in service of improved health outcomes and a more just and equitable society. She is the Chief Health Equity Officer for Teladoc Health and previously spent a decade leading health care transformation efforts at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Saranya lives in Lyme with her husband and their goldendoodle. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, reading, and traveling.

Suzanne McDowell– Director

Suzanne is the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at King Arthur Baking Company where for more than two decades her work has been deeply rooted in human resource management as well as social and environmental impact. Suzanne is a longtime member of the Norwich community and enjoys skiing, gardening, beekeeping, baking, and all the enrichment that life in Vermont has to offer.

Cyndi Scott – Director

An Upper Valley native, Cyndi’s fundraising career has included donor and advisory board relations at Tuck as well as planned giving for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and Dartmouth College. Prior to landing at Dartmouth, Cyndi worked at nonprofit organizations devoted to families, the empowerment of women, and racial justice. She and her young son reside in Sunapee, NH. A “good” day means they played in the sand at sunrise or sunset.

Sheldon Stansfield – Director

Sheldon Stansfield has been a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc for over 7 years. He joined the Willing Hands board in 2021 and sits on the finance committee. Sheldon is an avid skier in the winters and regularly travels to Quincy, MA to watch professional rugby games in the Spring. He enjoys planning long motorcycle trips through scenic areas of Vermont and NH on the weekends. He and his wife, Marie, live in Lyme, NH with their dog, Daisy.

Chuck Wooster – Director

Chuck Wooster owns and runs Sunrise Farm in White River Junction, a 400-member CSA now in its 25th year of operation. He’s the Town Moderator in Hartford and also serves on the board of the Vermont Almanac. He’s the author of Living With Sheep (Lyons Press, 2007) and is a 1989 graduate of Dartmouth.

Scroll to Top