Food For Greater Elgin is excited to announce the addition of two new staff members: Erik Anderson and Christina Gonzales.
Erik Anderson, a 25-year professional in the nonprofit sector, will step into the role of Director of Development starting March 1, where he will focus on fundraising projects and building our organization’s resource development capacity.
Erik has worked and lived in the Elgin area for the last two decades. From 2000-2006, he was the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin. Subsequently, after a five-year stint working for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he opened his own nonprofit consulting practice in 2011. You may have met him through any number of local projects with Larkin Center, Literacy Connection, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Elgin, or First Congregational Church. Erik recently completed a three-year term serving on the City of Elgin’s Sustainability Commission where he was an active volunteer with the city’s Elgin Earth Month planning committee and Solar Workgroup.
Erik is a donor to FFGE and has done some volunteer work with our organization. His skills, experience, and commitment to our mission made him the perfect fit for this opportunity.
Christina Gonzales will join us as the new Director of Community Relations. She will work with Erik on fundraising, developing our social media presence, and networking with community organizations for the effective delivery of food to underserved communities in the greater Elgin community.
Christina’s background, working alongside fellow non-profits within the Elgin area, brings new opportunities for Food For Greater Elgin to grow partnerships and continue to provide services to improve the lives of those who lack basic needs and those struggling against hunger. As the former Elgin Farmers Market Manager, Christina shares in Food For Greater Elgin’s mission of providing food security and access to the community.
“Food insecurity is something a lot of families struggle with, and if we can give them a place where they can have access to fresh food, without shame, then we’re doing something right,” says Christina.
Christina obtained a Communication degree from Aurora University, concentrating in Journalism, and obtained minors in Multi-Media Journalism and Strategic Communications (Public Relations and Advertising).
Welcome, Erik and Christina!