PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro Appoints New Executive Director

PORCH, a Chapel Hill-Carrboro based nonprofit, named a new executive director last week. 

Erin Riney officially started the position on July 5 and has more than 15 years of experience in education.

Not only has Riney worked as a community college educator, but has experience volunteering and doing nonprofit advocacy work. She’s lived in Chapel Hill since 2004 and says she’s passionate about helping the people of Chapel Hill and Carrboro through service.

“PORCH’s neighbors-helping-neighbors model provides the foundation for food justice work that can transform a community,” Riney said in a release. “At the heart of the organization’s efforts is the sense of community formed between donors, volunteers, PORCH program participants, and community partner organizations – and I look forward to working with them all as we continue to address the problem of hunger and its root causes right here in our backyard.”

Erin Riney joined the PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro team as executive director earlier this month. (Photo via PORCH.)

Riney has worked with students to create projects that benefit the community. One of her more notable projects include helping to create a food pantry at Durham Technical Community College. Riney also led a statewide alliance of other colleges and was a leader in the creation of an interconnected holistic student support system for families that are experiencing housing insecurities.  This program helps student parents who are struggling with basic needs. 

PORCH was founded in 2010 and has been working to fight food insecurities and hunger in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area. The organization aims to give food to families, food pantries, and schools in the community. In 2021, organization appointed Sarah Dudzic to the newly-created executive director position. She resigned, however, a few months after the announcement. 

Since its founding, PORCH has provided more than $5 million in hunger relief to Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Last year, the organization provided $824, 900 worth of food and gift cards to those throughout the community. This was a record amount that all went to fresh food, non-perishables, and grocery store gift cards. 

Laura Malinchock, the PORCH board chair, says that the program has steadily grown over the last 13 years – even during an economic downturn and global pandemic. 

According to Malinchock, the board is focusing on a new strategic plan that will meet the growing demands of families in need of food. The board will be moving from operationally focused to a governing board with staff. 

PORCH has a large impact on the families living in the area and community as a whole. Every month around 550 families are helped. This includes about 2,275 individuals, around 1,300 of which are children. The number of volunteers is drastically less. Around 280 volunteers work hard to serve the families in need. 

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