Valerie received her Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from Southern Adventist University in Tennessee. After attaining her Bachelors Degree, Valerie traveled the world, working two years as a teacher in South Korea and subsequently spending two more years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. As a Peace Corps Volunteer she worked as the Supervisor of a Healthy Schools Program that covered five rural communities in the Highlands of Guatemala. While in Peace Corps, Valerie also designed and introduced a viable supplement to firewood in the form of an ignitable brick made of shredded paper that is formed with a simple machine. Following her year with the RARE Program, Valerie has committed herself to further pursuing a career in the non-profit arena.
Placement: City of St. Helens
Population: 12,380
Location: St. Helens
Sponsor: Columbia Pacific Food Bank
Supervisor: Tracie Smith
County: Columbia
Columbia Pacific Food Bank: Columbia River Gorge. Food Systems.
Columbia Pacific Food Bank is a community based non-profit organization dedication to fighting hunger and its underlying causes. Columbia Pacific Food Bank works to acquire and distribute thousands of pounds of food and household items each year though its 21 member agencies. The Food Bank receives, warehouses and distributes food daily to food programs throughout Columbia County.
The RARE participant placed with the Columbia Pacific Food Bank will use momentum gained during the last year to gather and share food market related perspectives of businesses, growers and institutional food directors. This information sharing will take place at an event planned and developed by the RARE participant. The participant will also update a Countywide Local Food Guide and further develop the St. Helens Farmers Market. Because of the positive feedback Columbia Pacific Food Bank received from groups and individuals throughout the community, they are very excited to have a RARE participant on board for the next year.
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Now accepting applications. Applications must be received by April 26, 2013. Apply Now!