NEW DIRECTION—Solid Rock Food Closet Director LeAnn Gambill (front) pauses for a photo with outgoing director DeAnne Warren.

Gambill is new director of food closet

When business proprietor LeAnn Gambill closed The Olde Tyme General Store last March, she didn’t expect to find herself working outside volunteer efforts she has most recently been affiliated with.

After reading an article in late November 2008, Gambill opted to learn more about a directorship at the Solid Rock Food Closet that would soon be available and applied for the job. DeAnne Warren had held the position of director about four-and-a-half years, but opted to resign to spend more time with her husband, Mike.

Of her new position, Gambill remarked, “I wasn’t really looking for anything, it just came about. I think I was led to be here. I’ve been volunteering a lot—not at the food closet, I’d never set foot into the food closet, didn’t know much about the food closet and hadn’t met DeAnne. I just had this strong pull to come by here one day. I came by…it had been on my mind for a couple of months. I left that day and went home. I think it was a week later that the article came out in the paper that DeAnne was leaving…It was just this really strong pull to go see what that was about. It went from there. I went and applied and one thing led to another and here I am.”

Gambill went on to say, “I’ve had it in my heart for many years and truly like to help people. I’ve always been the kind of person that likes to help others. I knew there was something out there that would allow me to give and get back. This happened to be the perfect thing for me.”

The Interview

Gambill interviewed for the director position on Dec. 2, 2008, which coincidentally was her birthday.

“It was a strange day,” she recounted. “Actually, on my way to the interview, I stopped at an accident…I got out to help a friend of mine and stayed with her. I was 45 minutes late to the interview.” After calling to make interviewers Revs. Thom Burleson and Bob Miller aware of the situation, Gambill was encouraged to come when she was available.

“They still wanted me to come,” said Gambill. “I went to the interview and it worked out fine. All those things just tell me I was supposed to be here.” By the end of the day, she had received word that she had been chosen to be the new director of the Solid Rock Food Closet.

The Director

She began the job, shadowing former Director Warren the following day and will officially be the director of the food closet beginning today (Jan. 1).

Over the last month, Gambill has been learning how the nonprofit operates and meeting new faces on an almost daily basis. “Like I said, I’d never set foot in the place before, DeAnne felt like my best friend as soon as I met her; she’s a really great person and I’ve been telling everybody I’ve got some really big shoes to fill. She’s plowed the way and she’s left this place in really good shape. It’s just a blessing that I was able to find it. I’ve been learning how it runs and where our donations come from. I’m still learning everything there is to know and DeAnne is just a phone call away....”

Of the food closet volunteers, Gambill added, “The volunteers that are here are wonderful, I’ve never met such a group of volunteers that work so well together in all my life."

 

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