'Making A Difference': Lacey Food Bank Celebrates Its Director

LACEY, NJ — "True dedication and unselfish volunteerism."

These are the words the Lacey Food Bank community chairperson Donna McAvoy used to describe the food bank's director, Joanne Kurtz.

At the recent annual food bank luncheon, Kurtz was presented with the "Make a Difference" award for all the work she's done in the community.

Kurtz took over as director in March of 2020, right when the pandemic struck, McAvoy told Patch.

"Since she took over, she has overseen numerous changes and improvements to the facility, the clients, and the quality of distribution," McAvoy said of Kurtz in her presentation. "This is true dedication and unselfish volunteerism at its finest."

Kurtz oversees 76 volunteers as director. Each month, the Lacey Food Bank services an average of 140 clients.

Among Kurtz's responsibilities are overseeing and organizing volunteers, handling all Fulfill matters, ordering and procuring items for clients and much more, McAvoy said.

She puts in countless hours of work each week to ensure that the Lacey Food Bank is successful, McAvoy said.

Kurtz goes above and beyond for anyone in need of food, McAvoy said. "She just helps out so many clients in the community."

"Your actions as director have raised the level of service to the client families in our community," McAvoy said of Kurtz. "You are an inspiration. Your contributions have made such a difference to the lives of people in our community."