“We are a local, all volunteer non-profit organization with a mission to support local food pantries as they assist our residents with their basic food needs and to help educate the public of the basic food needs of individuals and families in our area.”
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Peg Reynolds - President
Peg is the co-owner and general manager of Reynolds Landscaping and Garden Shop, southern Ocean County’s premier landscape service and specialty retail outlet for over 33 years. Born in Kearny, NJ, Peg moved to Manahawkin at an early age and now resides with her husband, Mark, in Cedar Run. When not involved in the daily administrative and purchasing activities of this family-run organization, Peg devotes much of her free time to local fundraising efforts in support of hunger relief and families battling the effects of cancer. Peg and her husband, Mark, reside in Cedar Run.
Chris Schwab - Vice President
Chris is a commercial insurance producer/account executive at Anderson Insurance Agency in Manahawkin. A life-long resident of Ocean County, Chris grew up in Waretown and Barnegat. He now resides in Manahawkin with his twin boys, Caden and Connor. When not working in insurance, Chris dedicates his time to his family and volunteering in the community for organizations which include HFOSO, the Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean, and Zoning Board of Stafford Township.
Ellen Dondero Meyer - Treasurer
Ellen retired in September 2015 from her position as Assistant Vice President at TD Bank in Beach Haven, NJ. She has served on the Foundation since its inception, having worked on the original committee which established the annual fundraising dinner. Her other volunteer work includes serving as Secretary for the Surflight Theatre; Past President of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce along with currently being a member of its Chowderfest Committee; and Co-Chair, for more than a decade, of the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life. Ellen resides in Cedar Run with her husband Rob and daughter Libby.
Pamela Zeleznok - Secretary
Pam currently serves as Secretary and has been involved with the Foundation since 2010. Pam was raised and currently resides in Little Egg Harbor. After attending Ramapo College of NJ, Pam worked as a Human Resource Manager for a Sales Company in New Brunswick, NJ for 3 Years and then made the decision to move back to the area. She has been working for Barbara Wilkinson of New York Life Insurance Co. for 8 years. Pam has been involved with fundraising for the local Tuckerton Food Pantry and previously served as Secretary for the LEH Education and Community Foundation. Pam and her husband Rob have a son, Bo, and a daughter, Ruby.
Ian W. Smith - Taste Dinner Chairman
Ian has worked with the Foundation for many, many years serving as the Chair and Head Chef for the Annual Taste Dinner. Ian is a Culinary Arts Instructor at Ocean County Vo Tech and Director of Cuisine on the Green. Ian resides in Little Egg Harbor with his wife, Cheryl and they have two sons.
Dan Taylor - Trustee Emeritis
After graduating Southern Regional High School, Dan joined the United States Navy where he was stationed in California. Moving back to the area in 1974, he worked for the Anderson Agency and became a partner in 1986. Dan served on the SRHS school board, is a Past President of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, served for 15 years on the Stafford Township Planning Board, and over the years has actively participated in local charities including the Southern Ocean County Community Foundation of which he is the President. Dan and his wife, Terry, reside in Cedar Run. In his free time, Dan enjoys spending time with his two daughters, their husbands and four grandchildren, and riding his Harley.
BOARD MEMBERS
Rebecca Gee
Rebecca is Art & Marketing Director for several local companies including Kapler’s Pharmacy,Uncle Will’s Pancake House, Hot Or Not Yoga, Shore Wheels, Medicine Solutions Pharmacy, Calloway's Restaurant & Bar, and Medicine to Go Pharmacy. Through her work and personal efforts, she has become involved in giving back to the area in which she was born and raised. She has conducted many successful fundraisers for local groups, and volunteers much of her free time. She has been honored by the Stafford Twp Volunteer Fire Company for her efforts during Superstorm Sandy, and has been awarded honorary membership in the Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter and the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co.
Skye Gibson
Skye J. Gibson joined The Somers Group in 2010. Skye is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Skye's previous experience includes public accounting and owning small businesses. Skye is a 2001 graduate of the University of Delaware, with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. He earned a Masters in Business Administration in 2006 from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Skye currently serves as a Trustee and also serves on the board and various committees for the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Kristin, reside in Stafford Township, New Jersey, with their two children, Karter and Tanner.
Gary Henderson
Gary Henderson co-founded Bay Magazine with his daughter. He has been coming to Long Beach Island for over 60 years and owns a home in Surf City on LBI. Gary has over 35 years of C-level experience having worked for Gannett and News Corporation as well as successfully starting a number of companies in the Media, Internet, Digital and Mobile industries. Gary has also served on a number of community boards such as the King Low Heywood Thomas School, Ridgefield Library, Bedford Hills Fire Department to name a few.
Katie Hood
Katie Hood is a manager of her family owned business Reynolds Landscaping and Garden Shop. Katie takes great pride in running the weddings and events division of the company. She truly loves to express her creativity through floral design. Katie is married to Tanek Hood and together they have two amazing children Cullen and Ellie. The Hood family resides in Cedar Run NJ. Katie loves being involved in supporting the Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean. She has a passion for helping others in her local community and is thrilled to be the newest member on the HFOSO board.
Dorothy Lassik
Dorothy Lassik is a Vice President at TD Bank at Rt 72 in Manahawkin, NJ. She is the Store Manager and Small Business solutions advisor. She devotes much of her time to volunteer work including serving on the Foundation’s board and as a member of the planning committee for its annual Taste of Southern Ocean County fundraising dinner, and supports the Stafford Community Garden and the Hope Center in Toms River. She also serves on the board of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and is a Core Member of the Chowderfest Committee. The Lustgarden Foundation is another non-profit organization Dot volunteers her time and energy to year-round, raising funds for pancreatic cancer research, as well as participating in various other fundraising events for families battling cancer.
Don Myers
Don Myers has been a fixture in Long Beach Township leadership for almost a half century, giving professional insight and charitable support that helped shape the community for the better. Under his watch, the Long Beach Township beach patrol grew to become one of the most recognized and best managed departments in the country.
A graduate of Drexel University, a Brant Beach homeowner, and proud father of Madeline and Hannah; Don has a record of volunteerism and community service. Creating the first Lifeguard in Training (LIT) program in the nation in 1988 to originating the first Beach Wheels program in the state, Don found ways to innovate Long Beach Township, while supervising the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol for 28 years before retiring in 2014. He is currently active with Southern Regional School District, LBI 18 Mile Run, Ship Bottom Christmas Parade Committee, LBI Rotary Club and the Maximillian Foundation
Brian Wainwright
Brian owns Fantasy Island Amusement Park on Long Beach Island and has been a Southern Ocean County entrepreneur since 1997. As founder and CEO of Wainwright Family Enterprises, he leads companies with more than 600 people in the retail, real estate, family entertainment and technology services industries. Brian serves on the board of the New Jersey Amusement Association as well as the LBI Chamber of Commerce. This region has welcomed his family and supported his businesses, and he’s proud to give back by helping HFOSO create a community that is hunger-free.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Laura Benson, Esq.
Vanessa Carvajal
Michael Corliss
Jeremy DeFillipis
Samantha DePietro
Rebecca Dondero
Farrell Dunleavy
Michael Frankovich
Sandy Goldsborough
Dr. Jeffrey Hager
Tanek Hood
Brian Jillson
Renee Kennedy
John Maschal
Lucy Molinaro
Bob Palestri
Lori Pepenella
Mark Reynolds
Josh Roda
Nick Ruemeli
Adele Schock
Dennis Skaggs
Bob Stohrer
Dave Taylor
Curt Travers
Rich Visotcky, Esq.
Matt Walters
Our 2021 Calendar
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Taste @ Home Dinner (6:00 - 9:00pm, Ott's Good Earth Garden)
Monday, June 21, 2021 Annual Meeting (9:00am-9:45am Board Meeting)
Monday June 21, 2021 Board Meeting (9:45am-10:30am Annual Meeting)
Monday, October 18, 2021 Board Meeting (9:30am-10:30am)
Saturday, November 27, 2021 Thanks4Giving 5K RunRaiser (7:30am-10:00am, Veterans’ Bicentennial Park, Beach Haven)
All Board Meetings Til Further Notice Will Be Held At The Wireless Experience Offices - Rt. 9 Manahawkin NJ