The Great Plains Food Bank has named a new President.
Melissa Sobolik has assumed the role of President as Steve Sellant steps away from it. She says Sellant plans to stay on as CEO as he prepares for retirement within the next few years, so they will assume dual leadership roles. Sobolik has been with the Great Plains Food Bank for eleven years.
"I am just really excited to sort of dive into this position and really raise our presence statewide, and I like to be out, talking to people, raising awareness about ending hunger and finding new and innovative ways to do that."
Sobolik says many people focus on donations to food banks around the holidays, but summer months can be challenging as well.
"The summer months are the toughest for us - that's when kids are home, they're not getting their regular meals at school, parents are having to feed them three meals a day and that gets really tough - so there are not a lot of options for feeding kids congregate meals during the summer, and parents are really struggling. I would say this summer is no different - the heat is really a challenge, and so when we do have our summer meal sites a lot of them are out in the parks, and that's really tough with it being so hot."
Sobolik assumed the role of President on July 1st.