Meet the Team

Jackie Wilda, Founder of Feed a Friend, South Bend 

Combatting hunger has always been top priority for me. I grew up in a household that was always paycheck to paycheck, and access to good, whole and healthy food was a first of the month thing.  Food insecurity was a concept that I wouldn't be introduced to until almost 20 years later when I joined a social work class during COVID and could put a name to a very real problem that impacted not only my formative years, but my community today. 

When I bought my house in 2021 in the NNN, I went through a rough several months where I was always short and food was the first and easiest thing to cut or skip since bills were more important, and it was too shameful to admit that I didn't have the money to make ends meet. 

Now that I have entered a time in my life where I can meet my own needs, I want to create the pathways to making sure no one in our community has to deal with hunger alone, ever again. *While no longer living in South Bend, Jackie continues to do justice work in their many communities.

Tara Smithson, Co-Founder and Communications Coordinator

Growing up in rural North Carolina in a family with two working parents, I was lucky to always have my basic needs met.  It was while living outside of the United States as an adult, that I realized what a difference it made to my own health to have regular, affordable access to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. This understanding deepened a commitment to supporting efforts to heal hunger that also prioritize long-term health.

My first real experience with food insecurity was after completing graduate school in Louisiana and finding myself temporarily unemployed.  That was when I learned how SNAP (sometimes referred to as food stamps) worked.  I learned that even with the full amount, it was hard to cover everything and that my local grocery store refused to accept SNAP (a fact that they proudly announced in all-caps signs at the registers).  It was a powerful reminder that logistics, paperwork, gatekeeping, and shame can be obstacles to getting basic needs met.  As an educator, I love sharing what we're doing and learning from the many people in this community doing similar work.

Ben Lerman, Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator 

Molly Moon, Piker and All-Around Food Justice Accomplice