Meet the Team

  • Lori is a lifelong environmentalist with a deep passion for sustainability, particularly in reuse. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Haven’s Harvest, an organization that grew from a food recovery project she started with her children. A firm believer in the inherent goodness of people, Lori approaches her work with optimism and trust.

    As a dedicated community organizer, Lori champions individual empowerment through collective action. She serves on the Board of Directors of EcoWorks, a creative reuse center in North Haven. Lori holds certifications in Non-Profit Executive Leadership and as a Sustainable Building Advisor.

    In her free time, Lori enjoys gardening with remiss, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and spending time with her friends, her four adult children and their partners. She loves living in New Haven, a vibrant community of people committed to making it a wonderful place to call home.

  • Catherine has been rescuing food with Haven’s Harvest as a volunteer and board member for many years. After 15 years as a researcher in the life sciences, she has recently transitioned into full-time food recovery work. 


    A dedicated community activist, Catherine helped organize and grow the New Haven Buy Nothing Groups, an online free marketplace where members can give and receive secondhand items. She is also chair of the Quinnipiac East Management team, a neighborhood association that works to create a stronger neighborhood community and connect neighbors with their elected officials to effect change. Whether it’s developing operating procedures, outreach, or organizing events, she has collaborated with staff, the board, and community members to further Haven’s Harvest’s mission. 


    The mission of Haven’s Harvest is critical to her. It pains her to think of how much food is wasted while so many people go hungry and our planet warms. Everybody needs to eat, and so food is a great way to bring people together and build community.

  • Emma is a digital native with over five years of experience supporting Haven’s Harvest in IT roles and operations. Currently studying at Clark University, Emma combines her expertise in IT with a passion for environmental sustainability and food recovery. Outside of work and academics, you'll often find her engrossed in a good book, creating intricate crochet designs, or exploring captivating new destinations.

  • Mandy is a retired Nuisance Wildlife Control Specialist wanting to use her customer service skills for serving humans!  She's a part time volunteer who shares her small business expertise willingly.  She currently serves Haven's Harvest on the Partner Relations Team after dispatching for us in 2022 -2024.  She's a grandmother of 5, living in Branford, with her Mom.  She loves, people, good deeds and Jesus Christ.

  • Ana brings a strong background in operations, scheduling, and people management from her previous roles in food service, youth workforce programs, and early childhood education. She is detail-oriented and calm under pressure, with experience managing logistics, supervising teams, handling data, and problem-solving. As a fluent Spanish speaker and New Haven native, Ana is passionate about supporting her community and keeping food moving where it’s needed most. Outside of work, Ana enjoys hiking, reading, playing mahjong, and unwinding with her favorite sitcoms.

  • Ines holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has been dedicated to Haven’s Harvest for the past four years, first serving as an intern and Public Ally. With a strong commitment to community support and food recovery, Ines has grown within the organization and now serves as Warehouse Manager, ensuring smooth operations and impactful service delivery.

Our Board Members

  • Charlize is currently a sophomore at Yale University, where she is pursuing a double major in the History of Science Medicine and Public Health and Ethnicity Race and Migration (ER&M). Her interest in public health began in high school when she participated in the New Jersey Health Initiative Emerging Leaders program. In the summer of 2023, she worked tirelessly as a summer intern for Haven’s Harvest, helping to launch our Summer Supper Series, and she hopes to return for more. This past fall is partnering with Matthew Kirschner to collaborate with students at the The Yale Hunger Action Project to expand the volunteer base and raise awareness among Yale students about food waste within the Yale campus and the surrounding areas.

    Charlize’s personal experience growing up in a low-income, primarily Latino community provides her with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the populations Haven’s Harvest aims to serve. As a current undergraduate student, she has a unique perspective on engaging and mobilizing young volunteers and supporters. Passionate about education and public awareness, Charlize will assist in developing campaigns and strategies to raise awareness about food waste and food insecurity, encouraging more individuals and businesses to get involved.

    “Engaging in service has been a transformative experience that has broadened my perspective on the issues my peers and I face. It has educated me about the larger societal, social, and political factors that exacerbate these difficulties. Service has become my chosen avenue for change, motivating me to take proactive steps to address the very challenges that affect my community and me.”