Meet HSM Board Member, Sue Estee
Sue Estee is the Executive Director of Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, a non-profit organization based in Grand Rapids that annually provides 3 million pounds of food and grocery products to over 140 non-profit agencies in north central Minnesota.
In addition to the Hunger Solutions Minnesota board, Sue serves on Feeding America’s Program Sustainability Council. She is also the secretary of the Central Region of Feeding America’s Food Banks. Sue is a member of the Itasca Economic Development Council and the Itasca County Extension Committee. She has also served on the Itasca Poverty Reduction Action Team.
Since 2008, Sue has posted on her hunger-focused blog about the various challenges faced in her work. Second Harvest News is Sue’s weekly blog highlighting the happenings at the food bank and food shelf in Grand Rapids. Topics of Sue’s blog include: the recent Stamp Out Hunger event, The Value of Volunteers, and From the Front Lines of the Food Shelf.
A native of North Dakota and graduate of North Dakota State University, Sue worked in the construction, ready-mix and sand and gravel industry in Fargo-Moorhead and owned her own business prior to moving to Grand Rapids in 2000. Sue and her husband Jeff have one son, Alex.
When did you join the HSM board?
I am in my second term on the HSM Board.
What do you find most rewarding about being involved in hunger relief?
This job is the most rewarding one I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few! At the end of the day, you know that what you did that day helped people, many people, meet their most basic need, food. In addition, the people involved in this work are fantastic. I feel blessed to work with a great staff, unbelievable volunteers, and all the interesting, dedicated people involved in our partner organizations, from the agencies to statewide organizations like HSM to our national affiliation with Feeding America. I love my job.
What do you find most challenging about working to end hunger in our state?
The greatest challenge for me, as an optimist, is that we aren’t making real progress on ending hunger. It’s challenging to stay positive when people are suffering and needing us more every day, even though we are working really hard to make change.
What do you enjoy doing when away from work?
Food is my life. I cook to relax, I read about cooking and food. I grow food (and flowers) in my garden. My husband and I live in the woods near two lakes with our cat and dog. I’m looking forward to our son coming home from college this summer, and I will be able to cook for him again.
Please note: the Grand Rapids Food Shelf is this month’s agency highlight. Click here to read more.