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United Food Bank Director Lawson Retires

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/26/2007 06:22 pm

PLANT CITY - She spent eight years nourishing the needs of others as executive director of United Food Bank & Services of Plant City, but Linda Lawson said the charitable work also has enriched her spirit.

"I have more to give," Lawson said. "I have more wisdom."

Her insight led to a decision that she has been mulling for more than a year.

"I've enjoyed this better than anything I've ever done," she said. "But I know in my heart it's time."

Time, Lawson said, to retire.

She made her announcement Nov. 19 at a party celebrating the eighth anniversary of the food bank at 712 E. Alsobrook St.
Kelleigh Klein, a member of the food bank's board of directors, will replace Lawson on Dec. 3.
Food bank volunteers at the party joked that it would "take some big feet" to fill Lawson's shoes. Klein, Lawson said, "wears the same size." Klein emerged as the top choice after an extensive candidate search by an independent panel, Lawson said.

"You pass the baton to someone else and you hope they're a good runner," Lawson told Klein at the party. "And she is. Here's the baton. You run with it, girl."

The incoming executive director said she is looking forward to starting her new job and continuing Lawson's work.

"Just seeing what Lawson has done, she's a pioneer," said Klein, the former development and events coordinator for the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute in Tampa. "I feel very blessed to continue that role."

Klein graduated with a degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida and said she was drawn to the food bank because of her background in coordinating community health outreach programs for South Florida Baptist Hospital.

Klein is known for her professional and volunteer work. She was once an aide to former House Speaker Johnnie B. Byrd Jr., and for three years has emceed the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce's monthly breakfast meetings.

She takes over in the midst of the food bank's annual holiday food drive, which typically brings in about 50,000 pounds of donated groceries and other items.

"If I'm going to learn, now's the time," Klein said. "You get in there and it's sink or swim."

After the holidays, she said she will continue one of Lawson's pet projects: expanding the food bank's role to not only meet the nutritional needs of the community but also its educational needs.

A resume writing class is in the works and clients will be "plugged in" to continuing education classes at Hillsborough Community College's Plant City campus and local high schools, Klein said. Clients will be taught how to "dress for success" and how to enter or re-enter the work force, she said.

Klein and the board of directors also will continue to seek funding for a bigger facility. The food bank's space measures about 1,000 square feet, but a 4,000-square foot building would have enough space for a classroom and a warehouse to store and distribute food, Klein said.

When she takes over Dec. 3, Klein said she plans to have four new volunteers in tow. Her sons, Christopher, 23, Noah, 16, Jared, 14, and Jacob, 11, will spend time volunteering at the food bank.

Their mother is absolutely certain they will say yes.

"That's a guarantee," Klein said, "and they know it."

While Klein adjusts to her new role, Lawson said she plans to remain involved with the chamber of commerce and working to establish a vocational-technical school in Plant City. When Klein needs it, Lawson said she will be there to mentor her successor.

In her free time, Lawson plans to spend time with her husband, Bill, sons Billy Jr., 43, and Tim, 41, daughter Krysta Stafford, 36, and her grandchildren.

"I'll be busy," Lawson said. "I'm not winding down, I'm gearing up for the rest of my life."

Grace Evans, a longtime food bank volunteer, said it saddens her to see Lawson go.

"I don't want to cry," Evans said. "She will be missed."

The food bank has distributed more than 1.6 million pounds of food since Lawson founded it in 1999.

Commissioner Bill Dodson, who attended the Nov. 19 party, shared Evans' sentiments about Lawson and praised her efforts in making the food bank so successful that the 1,000-square-foot building can barely hold the thousands of pounds of food donated frequently by the community.

Lawson "should be congratulated for creating that problem" for Klein to fix, Dodson said.

Future success for the food bank is assured with Klein at the helm, Lawson said. The outgoing executive director then paused for a moment to reflect on her years with the organization.

"Along the way, lives were touched and needs were met," she said. "We offered hope to people who didn't have hope. It's been an awesome journey."

FOOD BANK FACTS

•United Food Bank & Services opened its doors Sept. 1, 1999.

•Linda Lawson, born and raised in the Plant City area, founded it to help consolidate efforts of local churches and other organizations that wanted to help the needy

•Lawson strives to screen clients to avoid those who may try to take advantage of the food bank's generosity. "We don't offer a handout; we offer a hand up," she said.

•The food bank has distributed more than 1.6 million pounds of food to about 46,000 individuals

•At least 95 percent of its clients are below poverty guidelines; the rest have fallen on hard times temporarily

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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