New kitchen director plans to curb local hunger problem

The Community Kitchen works to make sure everyone in Bloomington has enough to eat. Now, a new director will be setting new goals for the charity. \nThe Community Kitchen Board of Directors appointed Vicki Pierce as the Kitchen's new executive director last week. Pierce, 32, will assume the position in place of four-year former Executive Director Julio Alonso. Alonso resigned Jan. 1 to assume the position as Bloomington's director of public works.\n"Julio and the staff have already worked really hard to get the kitchen out there," Pierce said. "That helps."\nAccording to the Hungry Hoosier Web site, the Community Kitchen prepares and serves over 400 meals to low-income and homeless individuals everyday. The Hungry Hoosier Web site addresses hunger and homelessness in Monroe County. With two locations on South Rogers and West 11th Street, the number of meals the Community Kitchen serves is on the rise, increasing 56 percent since 2000. \n"Hunger is an important issue," Pierce said. "Tewlve percent of people in Bloomington are below poverty level. It's amazing in this community how much generosity there is and how many resources we have to support that." \nPierce will officially begin her position at the Community Kitchen March 22. She is currently finishing her seven-year term as development coordinator for Monroe County United Ministries.\nPierce said the Community Kitchen deals more directly with Bloomington's homeless than United Ministries but she is prepared to adjust. \nOne of United Ministries' basic tasks is also food distribution to low-income families said Pierce. Pierce said years of interaction between United Ministries and the Community Kitchen will make the transition into her new employment a little easier. \nAccording to Community Kitchen documents, the job description for executive director includes "fiscal responsibilities, communications, working with other agencies and maintaining programs and projects."\n"I plan on tackling funds right off the bat," Pierce said. "The Kitchen is very event-based. I plan to do a lot of direct mail campaigning." \nPierce, who is an IU alumnus, earned her first masters from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and earned a certificate in fundraising from IU-Purdue University Indianapolis' Center of Philanthropy. She is currently pursuing a second master's degree at IU.\n"I'm playing with these two jobs and going to school," Pierce said. "It's really interesting right now."\n"I don't know Vicki very well yet, but I know she's more cut out for this role," said Community Kitchen Interim Director Tim Clougher. Clougher, one of the three final candidates for executive director, has been one of the Kitchen's two assistant directors for the past two years. Clougher stepped in as executive director upon Alonso's resignation and will resume assistant directing duties as of March 22. \nClougher will take on more responsibility once Pierce starts. The Community Kitchen Board of Directors decided to combine the two original assistant directing positions for Clougher to fulfill.\n"There are a lot of changes happening right now," Clougher said. "But you have to handle that." Clougher will also assume office management and volunteer coordinating duties. \n"Tim really stepped up when Julio left," said Board of Directors President Jim Becker. Becker is also director of contract and grant administration at IU.\n"When it came to hiring, we went for the best person we could find," Becker said. Out of 20 total applicants, Becker said he felt Pierce proved most qualified.\n"Julio was able to build a good resource base," Becker said. "He was an excellent speaker and group leader. We were looking for someone who could fill his shoes. Vicki was that person."\n-- Contact staff writer Amber Kerezman at akerezma@indiana.edu.