It’s March which means it’s Women's History Month and International Women’s Day! We’re taking this time to highlight some of the wonderful women on the Move For Hunger team.
Our colleagues showcase their dedication, effort, and compassion towards our goal of combating food waste and hunger every day. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing women at Move For Hunger; your commitment and hard work have a lasting impact on communities across the country. We are celebrating you all, not just in March, but all year long!
Hannah Lane, Development Manager
Being able to help others - whether that’s collaborating with teammates to find solutions to challenges that arise, providing opportunities for individuals to get involved with Move For Hunger and supporting them on their fundraising journey (shout out to our Team Move For Hunger runners!), or mentoring our interns. I love being able to share my knowledge and skills to support others to be the best that they can be, and finding creative solutions to challenges we face each day.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
In a way, it’s like seeing the world as my family and that it’s up to me to help provide for them. In my role here at Move For Hunger, I get to help people help each other through charitable donations to our organization, which propels forward the work that we’re able to do in communities across the U.S.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
Taylor Swift, for two reasons. One, because I’ve always been a huge fan of her music, and it’s a dream of mine to meet her. More importantly though, I’d love to meet her and learn from her because I think she’s an incredibly inspiring person. Watching her change lives through her Eras Tour and making donations to local food banks across the US in every city she visited, impacting the lives of so many people simply by making those donations is inspiring. She’s helped so many organizations provide so many meals over the years and it’s incredible to see.
Alexa Mezzacappa, Special Events Coordinator
I feel most empowered when I can directly contribute to addressing hunger and food insecurity. Knowing that my work has a tangible, positive impact on individuals and communities gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. Empowerment for me also comes from being able to inspire others to take action and join in the effort to fight hunger. When we work together, it amplifies the difference we can make.
Overcoming challenges, whether it's securing resources, organizing food drives, or connecting people to essential services, is incredibly motivating. Each step forward, no matter how small, brings hope and makes me feel that I am part of something much bigger—helping to break the cycle of hunger and empower individuals toward a better future.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
Working in a role that addresses hunger allows me to directly impact the lives of those who are facing food insecurity, a problem that affects millions of individuals and families.
Hunger is not just about a lack of food—it's also about a lack of access to nutritious meals, which can have long-lasting effects on health, education, and overall well-being. People who experience hunger often have to make tough decisions between buying food and paying for other essentials, like rent or medical care. It’s a complex issue that extends beyond the immediate need for food, affecting communities across our country.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
If I could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, it would be Princess Diana. She was not only an icon of grace and compassion, but also someone who used her platform to bring attention to causes that deeply mattered, such as homelessness and landmine removal. Despite the intense scrutiny and challenges she faced in her personal life, Princess Diana remained grounded in her dedication to helping others and advocating for those who didn’t have a voice.
I would love to hear her perspective on the pressures she faced as a public figure, as well as her personal journey of finding strength in the face of adversity. Her ability to balance vulnerability with courage is something that continues to inspire millions. I imagine our conversation would be both enlightening and heartwarming, as she had an incredible ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Princess Diana's legacy of kindness, empathy, and resilience is something that resonates with me deeply, and I’d cherish the opportunity to hear her thoughts on making a positive impact in the world.
Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz, Director of Development
Problem solving! I thrive flexing my creative side to craft a number of different scenarios or paths out of a particular obstacle. It’s about finding and forging the path forward more than just finding a solution.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
Always having served in the nonprofit world, I use my voice to inspire others. Whether it’s as simple as educating on how we can make small changes in our daily lives to minimize food waste or as large scale as advocating from a stage for change, we all have the power to be the change we want to see in the world.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
Betty White! She was revolutionary in the entertainment industry and set a number of records and broke barriers. Not only was she a phenomenal performer, but she was an incredible philanthropist in the animal welfare space.
Bridget Foley, Director of Multifamily Membership
Recently, I just finished my first ever half marathon! I felt so empowered running across that finish line, knowing that my body could do amazing things. Training was tough and seeing the fruits of my labor pay off was the most empowering thing ever. Luckily, I also had an amazing support group of women also cheering me on from the sidelines throughout, creating an amazing sense of community empowerment as well.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
To have my name be part of the dedicated lineage of women fighting hunger is humbling. So many people have devoted their lives to feeding people in any way, and being a small part of that is truly the most rewarding experience in my life. I love bringing awareness to our cause to those who may not have thought that THEY TOO can help fight hunger. Being a woman fighting hunger means that in small ways I too can make a change through education, leadership, and overall passion. I am proud to be part of an amazing women-led leadership team who are so committed to making the world a better place. For me, that sense of pride makes being a woman in leadership worth it.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
I would have a feast if I could! I also know that this dining reservation would be ever changing because there are so many women in history living and passed that have made influential changes to our landscape as a society. (So let’s book me out for the next year huh ;) ) Currently, someone who I would LOVE to grab a drink with is Jane Fonda. She is a known activist, and has been very vocal about her activism. It would be an honor to hear her stories of the acting world and how she has been able to continue to shine her light through dark times.
Carlyn O’Hearn, Food Recovery Specialist
I feel powerful when I take charge of my own growth, whether it’s through learning something new or overcoming a challenge. As well as being surrounded by strong, supportive women who uplift each other, it is a constant reminder that empowerment is about community as much as it is about individuality.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
To me, being a woman fighting hunger is about breaking barriers and challenging systems that perpetuate food insecurity and food waste, while also providing support to communities in need. It’s about leveraging my skills and compassion to create lasting change, whether that’s through raising awareness, building relationships, or contributing to the access of nutritious food for community members.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
If I could have dinner with any woman (or women), I would want to grab a bite with a group of my dearest friends. Every single one of them I admire and adore for their authenticity, outspoken nature, and intelligence. They make me laugh like no one else can, turning even the simplest moments into memories filled with joy.
They inspire me to stay true to myself and constantly push me to grow. More than that, they make me feel at home in a way that’s hard to put into words—they create a space where I can be completely myself, unapologetically. Their presence alone is a reminder of the strength in vulnerability and the power of genuine connection.
Stephanie De La Hoz, Director of Programming
Helping others! Whether it’s the people we serve, or the team that I lead, it always feels empowering to use my energy and power for good.
What does it mean to you to be a woman fighting hunger?
If you think of most families, it’s usually the women that are constantly concerned that everyone is fed. I think the innate desire to take care and nourish the ones we love with healthy food comes naturally, and it drives my passion for our mission and my day-to-day work. Being able to help feed people on a large scale motivates me to pour my heart into everything we do.
If you could have dinner with any woman, living or historical, who would it be and why?
Michelle Obama! She is so inspiring to me as a woman, a mother, a wife, and someone who has dedicated many professional years to social change. I would love to pick her brain and hear more stories about her life personally and professionally.
We’re honored to have these dedicated and passionate women on the Move For Hunger team. Follow our social channels (@moveforhunger) to stay up to date on hunger news and the impact our network is making!
