Woodridge, IL– Kevin Delano, Chairman of the Board of West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge has announced that Executive Director Laura Traut Coyle plans to leave her position in the coming months to pursue a lifelong career interest that allows her to keep supporting missions she is passionate about while having flexibility for her family. Coyle informed the Board of her intentions at the end of 2021 and will be staying engaged with the pantry through the transition. The Board is currently undertaking a search for her replacement.
Kevin Delano, Chairman of the WSCP Board, said, “We are grateful for Laura’s outstanding leadership as we transformed West Suburban Community Pantry. The impact of COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of our work. Laura’s ability to move the Pantry to new levels of service positioned us to weather the storm and support our communities. The growth we’ve experienced in a short period of time and the strong partnerships and team that she has cultivated are a testament to her leadership.”
Coyle joined the Pantry and Executive Director in 2016. Under her leadership the Pantry has nearly doubled the number of individuals and families it serves, navigated delivering service to nearly three times as many people in need during the Pandemic, launched its first in-school pantry in Romeoville, renovated the Pantry Store, warehouse and office space, and launched online food ordering through its Virtual Food Pantry. The Pantry is committed to continuing to expand and optimize services to DuPage and Will County residents through on-site shopping, nutrition and well-being education and resources, remote pantry locations, senior home delivery and expansion of the Virtual Food Pantry program.
“I’ve been so honored to work alongside so many committed leaders who share a similar vision of a community without hunger. Together, we have charted a path to achieve food security for our neighbors and we’ve successfully brought to life so many things that were just ideas a few short years ago,” says Coyle. “I’m very proud of what West Suburban Community Pantry has achieved and truly believe that this wonderful organization is just beginning to blossom in service to the community. As the Pantry has reached an exciting phase in its own evolution, I have reached a similar point in my own life, where I can pursue a long-time interest in serving nonprofit leaders in a consulting and coaching capacity.”
Delano says the needs of individuals facing food insecurity in the community continue to grow, and the search is underway to find an Executive Director who excels at strategic leadership, relationship building and team development who can take the organization’s vision of a community without hunger to the next level. The Board hopes to have that individual in place this summer.
For additional information visit https://wscpantry.org/ed-transition/
