Meet Foodshare's Food Sourcing Manager

Name: Paula Siebers

Your role at Foodshare: As Food Sourcing Manager, I build and maintain relationships with the numerous food donors in our area that provide much of the food we distribute.

How long have you been with Foodshare? Since May 2012

Hobbies:  running, “re-fashioning” thrift store finds, sewing

Why I do what I do:  After over twenty years in retail management and small-business banking I desired a career where I felt the time spent away from my family (at work) was doing something to improve the lives of others in a meaningful way.  As Food Sourcing Manager I encourage local businesses to become more aware of how their contributions of food, money and time can help those in our community who need it the most.  I find it very rewarding to have the opportunity to continue to work with local businesses in this manner.

Most recent accomplishment: My most recent “accomplishment” is not yet accomplished, but when it is, it shall be my greatest accomplishment!  And that is the task of raising my four children to become responsible, caring and contributing members of our society.  I often think about the fact that there is not a day that I can check off the list “taught my daughter to be honest”, or “taught my son to be charitable”. However, I am hoping that every single day we have made some forward strides despite the setbacks that come from being human, and when that happens I consider it a “recent accomplishment”.

Last read: Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion by Michael Levy.  This book was actually recommended and loaned to me by a Foodshare volunteer as I have a daughter who leaves in a couple of weeks to teach English to young children in China.  The book is about a young Jewish Peace Corp volunteer, my daughter will be a young Mormon volunteer.  Michael experiences numerous cultural (and humorous) misunderstandings, but ultimately connects with many despite the huge gap in understanding each other’s culture.

If you were a plant what kind would you be?  Why?  Aloe Vera.  Pretty flowers, low maintenance, does well in snow and frost, has healing properties.

If you could trade places with anyone for a week, who would it be?  Why?  I would choose a close family member, my husband, one of my kids or one of my parents.  Why?  As much as we try to understand others, only by walking in their shoes quite literally are we truly able to understand.  This insight would be invaluable. 

If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?  Pay off everything.  Set aside funds for college tuition for the kids.  Quit our jobs (sorry Foodshare- I will come back as a volunteer) and go serve multiple Humanitarian Missions with my family.

Anne Frank once said that in spite of everything, she believed people were basically good. Do you agree or disagree? Why?   I agree 100%.  I believe that all people, born in pure innocence, only become otherwise due to either environmental circumstances or as consequences for poor choices they or others have made.