Katie Hart
Director of Operations, Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS)
Bio to come
Brenda Burns
Executive Director, Newport Senior Center/Sullivan County Nutrition Services
In a career that has now spanned nearly 30 years, Brenda Burns has pretty much seen it all and done it all at Sullivan County Nutrition Services. “From working in the kitchen to operational support to enrollment and outreach to delivering meals, I’ve had a lot of jobs here,” she said. “And I’ve enjoyed all of them.” Now as Executive Director of Sullivan County Nutrition Services, Burns and her staff support more than 500 clients each day between home delivery and the popular ‘grab and go’ program where clients can stop by and pick up meals which can be heated up at home. Now serving congregate meals at the Newport Senior Center. Housed out of the Newport Senior Center, the program also connects older adults to transportation, exercise programs and a host of other supports. While congregate dining has been slow to return since the pandemic, the program has been offering dine in breakfast on selected Saturdays.
She shared that some older adults on limited incomes are often forced to make choices between food or medication or keeping the power on. Burns calls that dilemma “heart-breaking” and she and her team work to connect those in need to other services and supports as needed, like Service Link. The greater Newport community is “caring and closeknit” she says. “Our board is a great example of that. They’ve stepped up to support ‘grab and go’ and delivered meals as well. They are also impactful fund raisers.”
While the work is not without challenges, there’s no place Burns would rather be. “How we treat older adults in need says a lot about our community. Much of the time when we get requests for meals, we can usually get people on the program the same day.
“There are people in the community who need help and that’s why we’re here,” said Burns. “Some need more help than others. We want to serve as a resource for people to stay in their homes as long as possible.”
Katy Cordova-Brooks
Executive Director, Strafford Nutrition & Meals On Wheels
Providing Support: Katy Cordova-Brooks Helps Older Adults Connect With Critical Services
With a career focused on those in need, Katy Cordova-Brooks, Executive Director of Strafford Nutrition & Meals on Wheels, says that a large part of her daily work is about creating healthy pathways for older adults. And that starts with ensuring access to nutritional food for those who are underserved.
“It’s no secret that NH has among the country’s oldest populations,” she said. “Many older adults in our state lack access to food and social interaction. We want to address that.”
Katy views her agency as an important part of the area’s social services safety net. “I love all of the aspects of my job,” she says. “But in particular seeing close up the vital connections that we are able to make by delivering meals, or hosting community dining, is very gratifying.” Between home delivery and community dining, the agency serves about 500 people each day.
Having joined the agency in late 2024, Katy and her team are moving forward quickly on a number of key projects ranging from updating the organization’s IT structure to new community dining sites to exploring collaborative programs in the community, such as a restaurant voucher program. “As a team, we are committed to do whatever we can to meet the needs of vulnerable people,” she stated. “And we’re always adapting to meet changing needs and challenges.”
As is the case with most non-profit leaders, Katy’s day is dynamic and to her, that variety is motivating. She brings significant grant experience to the table and fund development is an important part of her job. “When we approach funders and tell our story, it’s exciting to share the impact of our work and what it represents to our clients.”
Despite numerous challenges and a growing population of those in need, Strafford Nutrition & Meals on Wheels can generally get new clients connected to home delivery within three days or so. “We’re driven to get people enrolled as soon as possible,” said Katy “As a team, we center everything we do on our clients.”
Tim Diaz
Executive Director, Meals 0n Wheels of Rockingham County
There is no such thing as an average day in Tim Diaz’s world and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love the variety and challenges that come with this role,” he says. “Every day is a new opportunity to help someone.”
Tim became the Executive Director of Rockingham Nutrition and Meals on Wheels in early 2023, having previously worked for many years in the corporate sector at Timberland- where his focus areas included retail management and e-commerce. He also previously served as a volunteer board member for Meals on Wheels.
“I was fortunate to be able to get some great insights as a board member prior to joining the team here,” he says. “I had the chance to get to know the mission and work from the inside as well as better understand the profound impact we have on those we serve.”
As is the case with many of his colleagues across the state, Tim’s daily work balance trends among operations, outreach, and fundraising. “Our goal with enrolling new clients is to be able to start delivery within 24 hours after intake,” he says. “And it is a point of pride here that we can do that. But with an uptick in requests and overall inflation, it is important that we raise funds to keep up with needs.”
He credits the staff, volunteers, board, and community partners with a “singular focus on those we serve. For about 80% of home delivery clients, the meal we serve is the main meal of their day— and for many, the driver might be the only person they see on that day. It really goes beyond a meal- that interaction is so very important.”
Tim added that handing someone a meal and telling them “See you tomorrow,” are now his three favorite words. “They know we’ll be back and that someone cares. That means everything,” he said.
Jon Eriquezzo
President/CEO, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County
With over three decades of leadership experience in NH’s non-profit sector, Jon has had an extensive range of experiences, particularly in the areas of disability and older adults. He calls Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, “the best job I’ve ever had- by far”
In addition to his direct experiences, Jon was the primary care giver for both of his parents and thus has a very deep understanding of not only the health and nutritional need of seniors but also the critical importance of social interactions. He frequently visits new clients not only to get a sense of customer service but also to see how they’re doing.
“We know social isolation is a key risk factor and that before the pandemic, about 20% of our clients would see only the Meals on Wheels Driver each week,” Jon stated. “As the pandemic went on, that number was estimated to be as high as 60%. Let that sink in for a moment. 60% of people in our state who’s only outside contact in a given week of one of our drivers. To me, that check in and conversation-even for a short period of time – is one of the most critical things we do an agency.”
Angela Johnson
Executive Director, Senior Meals of Coos County and the Berlin Senior Center
When looking back at non-profit career that has now spanned over 30 years, Angela Johnson says that “things fell into place for me many years ago and I’ve never looked back.” As Executive Director of Senior Meals of Coos County and the Berlin Senior Center, Johnson is well entrenched as a leader for the region. “Early on, I had seen what some of my older relatives were facing as they aged. They needed help. That was when I knew I wanted to pursue this work. It was a comfortable place to be.”
The hub of Johnson’s program is the Berlin Senior Center which offers congregate meals and a broad range of supports for older adults including access to ServiceLink Counselor. Sit-down meals are also provided at Colby Commons in Colebrook and Jefferson Road in Whitefield. “Annually, we serve over 1,000 people,” said Johnson. “And due to the geography of some areas of the North Country, it can be challenging to get to some of our clients. But our staff and volunteers are determined and get the job done. We know that in many cases, we are someone’s lifeline.”
Heather O’Brien
Director of Elder Services, Community Action Program of Belknap and Merrimack Counties Inc.
While recently named the Director of Elder Services at CAPBM, Heather O’Brien has an extensive background previously as the Operations Manager overseeing all 8 senior centers and Meals on Wheels for Belknap and Merrimack Counties with prior experience in nutrition services at long term care facilities and a hospital. “With my background in nutrition, food is extremely important to me. I love to encourage people to heal their bodies through nutrition.” “This has by far been my favorite position, being able to connect individuals in the communities to food and socialization, it’s become my passion to help people.
Heather also oversees the Americorps Senior Companion Program for the state of NH, and the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Merrimack County. “Being able to work in an agency with over 70 programs, we are able to wrap all of our services around an individual, it’s wonderful.” “Our department strives to connect with various agencies outside of our organization to provide as many resources for our individuals as possible. We have recently started to grow our outreach dining locations and partner with our Affordable Housing department. We are looking to find all pockets of individuals who need our services.
One of Heather’s biggest missions since moving into her role has been to educate individuals on all of the benefits of Meals on Wheels. “Meals on Wheels isn’t just for low-income individuals; we serve all individuals. Just because someone has a higher income than someone else doesn’t mean they have all of the support that they need. We’re here to help provide that nutritious meal, safety and wellness check, and connection to resources.
David Smolen
Executive Director, The Gibson Center For Senior Services
Take a visit to the Gibson Center for Senior Services on most days and its safe to say you will see a beehive of activity. From a broad array of onsite programs ranging from exercise to art classes, to congregate dining featuring scratch made meals, to the local Meals on Wheels program, to an onsite thrift shop, the Center serves as a critical site for so many across the Mount Washington Valley.
And David Smolen would not have it any other way.
“All segments of our community come through our doors at some point, and all are welcome,” he said. Smolen, who assumed the role of Executive Director in 2024, also lauds the many local connections and organizational relationships that the Center fosters. “This is a smaller, close-knit community and these collaborations led to innovations and improvements that help the greater good.”
Smolen says it is that spirit-combined with the Center’s mission- that drew him to the Executive Director role. Previously the director of the Conway Public Library, he had served on the board of the Gibson Center for many years and thus brought an informed perspective to his new position. “Serving on the board of the Center was a privilege and a great orientation to not only the crucial role it plays in the lives of older adults, but also some of the challenges faced by seniors in our community. I came into this role with my eyes wide open and am privileged to be here. The volunteers and staff are equally committed and act as a caring family for those who utilize our services.”
Like many of his counterparts at Meals on Wheels providers, Smolen wears multiple hats and thus no two days are ever the same. On what he calls his list of “top of mind” issues is helping stop elder abuse and scams and promoting the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit for older adults who might qualify. The Granite State makes SNAP benefits available to people or households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. And for those 60 or older or disabled, there is no income limit. “We have to overcome the stigma and raise awareness that the benefit is there for those who need it,” he said.
No matter how hectic a day he might be having, Smolen always carves out time to attend the Center’s congregate lunch program, where he joins other diners to enjoy lunch and conversations. “It is a wonderful, relaxed way to keep abreast of some of the issues which matter to the area’s older adults. It really is among the highlights of my day.”
Kathleen Vasconcelos
Executive Director, Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Inc.
Covering every town across sprawling Grafton County, Grafton County Senior Citizens Council (GCSCC) views its role as “whole person connections to care and services.”
This, according to Kathleen, who has led the agency since 2018. Operating out of 8 senior centers, as well as two ServiceLink locations, GCSCC has served the community for nearly 50 years. Currently they serve over 8,000 seniors with services from meals (home delivery and grab and go), to transportation, and outreach and counseling). “There’s no ‘one size fits all’ model for caring for our clients,” she says. “Their conditions may vary and as such we try to adapt to meet their specific needs.”
Linkages among her agency and others are part of the fabric of GCSCC’s mission. “For instance, through the RSVP Good Morning program, volunteers call older adults daily to check on them. If an issue is identified, we can take action proactively.”
Part of her leadership role is to work with her board to identify emerging issues. “We seek to anticipate future needs and be flexible as an agency.” Nowhere was that more evident than during the pandemic. “We are very good at making mid-stream adjustments,” she said.
One wonderful example of embracing the new normal is the “drive-through” meal pick-up at GSCSC’s eight senior centers. On a recent summer day in Lebanon, clients lined up to get cups of watermelon cubes, a ready to eat meal, and could choose items from a fresh vegetable table, all from the comfort of their cars. And there was music to boot as Roger, a longtime volunteer and former delivery driver, serenaded the clients with a wonderful array of country music tunes.
When referring to the GCSCC staff, volunteers, and board, Kathleen says they are all “united in purpose. Our daily mission is to provide programs and services that support older adults’ health, dignity, and independence.”
Misty Ryder, BBA
Executive Director, Ossipee Concerned Citizens
While recently named as Executive Director at Ossipee Concerned Citizens, Misty Ryder has an extensive background in the social services sector and is well connected to the community at large. “Being chosen to lead this agency is an honor and a challenge I’m very much looking forward to. Food insufficiency among seniors is a growing problem in our community and in Carroll County. To be able to address that need and provide the important social contacts that are part of meal delivery is so important.”
An Ossipee native, Misty sees the benefits her agency provides to seniors in terms of meals being delivered but also as connector to other services. “We have a great relationship with the area providers, elected officials and other non-profits,” she says. “We also have a very committed Board of Directors who are very generous with their time and connecting us to funding sources.”
When it comes to some of the more common misnomers about Meals on Wheels, Misty says her agency works to correct the narrative. “It’s ok to ask for help,” she says. “And many older adults or those who are housebound may not think they qualify for meal delivery. Our goal as an agency is to change that perception. In fact, one way for older adults to remain independent and at home is to sign up for our services.”
“We don’t want to be the area’s best kept secret!”
