Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Detroit-based nonprofit working to tackle food insecurity in southeast Michigan by getting surplus food out to those in need, is getting a new leader.
The nonprofit has tapped Angela Moloney, who comes from the Bloomfield Hills-based Catholic Foundation of Michigan, as its next president and CEO after a national search. She starts in January, taking on the job held by Gerry Brisson since 2014. Gleaners announced Brisson’s planned departure from the role earlier this year.
“I am honored to step into this role and join Gleaners at such a pivotal moment for the organization. Gleaners’ commitment to increasing access to nutritious food with dignity and respect is clear, especially as our region faces new challenges in urgent need,” Moloney said in a news release.
Food banks across Michigan, including Gleaners, earlier this year dealt with canceled orders from the federal government, forcing them to scramble to fill in the gaps with their own funds, food purchases and donations. More recently, confusion around if and when low-income families would get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits during the federal government shutdown put additional pressure on charitable organizations already dealing with high demand.
Moloney most recently served as president and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan. She has also held senior roles at Nazareth Farm, a Catholic nonprofit providing home repair in West Virginia, and Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a post graduate program for young adults to serve marginalized communities across the country.
“We are confident in her ability to guide Gleaners forward and continue advancing our service across Southeast Michigan,” said Damali Sahu, chair of the Gleaners’ board of directors, in a news release.
Under her leadership, Gleaners will continue to serve five counties in southeast Michigan: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe. The nonprofit provides food to nearly 350 partnering agencies, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and schools, and also offers drive-up grocery distributions. Last year, the organization distributed more than 53 million pounds of food and reached about a million households.
Outgoing president and CEO Brisson has been with Gleaners for 19 years and has said the nonprofit is ready for a new leader. Under his tenure, Gleaners weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw record increases in food distribution, and launched a campus in Taylor. In 2019, he received the annual Shining Light award, presented by the Detroit Free Press and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, for unsung contributions in the region.
Reach reporter Nushrat Rahman at nrahman@freepress.com.