Building A Legacy: Recognizing Sharon Thornberry

Sharon Thornberry has retired after over 25 years of being part of the Oregon Food Bank team. The legacy Sharon built continues to ripple throughout the Columbia Gorge region and beyond. Sharon’s early focus on rural food systems resulted in the creation of necessary programs like the Food, Education, Agriculture, Solutions Together (FEAST) program, and because of their leadership as Manager of Columbia Gorge Food Bank (CGFB), a branch of Oregon Food Bank, we are looking forward to the transition of CGFB to an independent nonprofit.

“We are eternally grateful for Sharon’s passion, innovation and vision. Columbia Gorge Food Bank belongs to this community, but certainly would not be looking toward the future in the same way without Sharon’s leadership,” says Breen Goodwin, CGFB Transitional Executive Director.

Sharon has had an immeasurable impact on local and regional food system work in Oregon. We are grateful for their many, many contributions and we congratulate Sharon on their new role as Executive Director at Philomath Community Services in Philomath, Oregon. Philomath Community Services is a multi-program community service organization serving Philomath and west Benton County, and is an Oregon Food Bank Partner Agency. We have no doubt that Sharon’s leadership will be transformative in hir new role.

“I am very grateful for the 25 years of love, friendship, challenges and opportunities that Oregon Food Bank gave me. The reality is I have not really gone anywhere. I am simply assuming another role in the Oregon Food Bank Network of Partners,” says Sharon Thornberry.

If you would like to show your support to Sharon Thornberry for hir time at Oregon Food Bank, consider a gift to Philomath Community Services.