All members are local residents and are quite involved in the practical running of the Food Pantry. Board members are elected for 3 year terms with no limit to the number of terms a member may serve. There are currently 11 board members serving the Food Pantry.
Karen Nogle
Karen has been a registered nurse for over 38 years but is no stranger to food insecurity. In her early twenties, as a single mom without a plan, she relied on Aid to Families with Dependent Children in her state. Once she graduated from nursing school and began her career, she was able to wave goodbye but she never forgot. She is an advocate for nourishing children so that the community as a whole benefits.
Dale Barwick
Dale was new to the board in 2024 serving as a Director. Dale has a history of volunteering in a homeless shelter in Colorado. He resides in Homer most months of the year and volunteers at the pantry on Mondays during his time here. He has been very generous with personal grants to help fund additional food and milk for children and is instrumental in assisting with grocery ordering and organization.
Ruth Dickerson
Ruth started volunteering with the Food Pantry at its start in the 1990s and previously served on the HCFP Board for over 20 years as Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. After taking a brief break to focus on family, she has decided to return as Secretary to continue serving clients in our community. Her experience in our organization and connection to the community is an invaluable asset to the board.
Trish Alward
Trish was raised in Homer and understood the importance of giving back to her community at an early age. She has previously worked with Haven House managing the Child Care & Adult Food Program and the Child Care Assistance Program. Currently, she and her husband own and operate several businesses. Trish has 20 years experience in bookkeeping and brings fresh insights and community connections to the board.
Grace Hagen
Grace joined the board of directors in January 2019. She is a full-time mom to 4 toddlers and runs her husband’s commercial fishing and welding operations. She was raised in Homer and often volunteered as a teen; she has a passion for health and wellness. Grace also assists with grant writing and has been taking on more of the annual grant requests.
Deb Schmidt
Deb joined the board of directors in January 2022. She is a retired teacher and has lived in Homer for the past 29 years service various local non-profits over the years. She has been a regular Monday distribution volunteer for several years and has been a great voice for clients on the board. Deb is also very involved with the Thursday group of volunteers that cook for our free friday and writes our newsletters and letters to the paper.
Sarah Bolton
Sarah began volunteering at the Homer Food Pantry in the beginning of 2025 and has quickly become one of our most involved and helpful volunteers. The insights she brings from her previous experience as a para educator and Volunteer Coordinator have been a wonderful asset to our Monday operations. She is eager to deepen her involvement and contribute further to the pantry's vital mission. This is Sarah's first year on the board.
Alex Koplin
Alex has lived in Homer since 1988 and has been a public-school teacher for over 40 years. He retired 8 years ago and has since substitute taught on the Kenai Peninsula and throughout Alaska. He has a strong belief that in order to provide excellent education, you must first provide adequate shelter, clothing and food. He is also a board member on the LWV of Alaska a member of Kenai Peninsula Votes.
Ethan Smith
Ethan has lived in Homer for over 9 years and has been actively volunteering and donating food to the Pantry for the past few years. He has a big heart to feed people and get them back on their feet. He has most recently owned and operated the Coffeesmith Café and is an excellent chef.
Jose Musa
Jose lives in Homer year-round, coaches basketball at the high school, and owns a local law firm. He is looking for ways to contribute to the wonderful people of our town and use his experience to help our community. This is Jose's first year on the board.
Tim LaMarr
Tim retired to Homer in 2024 and has quickly become an integral contributor to our operations. He has 30+ years of experience in federal service that he uses to aid the pantry in data tracking/reporting and volunteer management. He has a genuine passion to help people in need and has enjoyed getting to know our clients. As a board member, he hopes to assist in expanding the pantry's grant opportunities. This is Tim's first year on the board.