Get to know the Something to Eat™ team
David joined Youthfront as Director of Something to Eat in July of 2017 after spending 17 years in the Shawnee Mission School District teaching 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th grades (although not all at the same time, thankfully). During his final two years of teaching, David had the opportunity to take his 6th-grade students on a field trip to pack snacks for food-insecure children in the Kansas City area. It was the highlight of his and his students’ 6th-grade experience! So when the opportunity arose to direct a program that provided youth and adults with an even more impactful experience of packing healthy and delicious meals in a party-like atmosphere, it was an easy decision. The staff’s vision of sharing life together with the community (both privileged and poor) and creating experiences that build meaningful relationships was just the right fit!
Xavier graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the fall of 2015 and quickly joined the workforce in a variety of different positions in sales and then warehouse management. For the most part, he enjoyed what he did, but Xavier discovered his true passion for serving while working with a summer program dedicated to teaching the love of reading and community service to grades K-12. Their motto: “I can and must make a difference in myself, community, country, and world” was inspirational to Xavier and it was the primary reason he sought a position with Something to Eat and Youthfront whose mission to inspire youth to make a difference offered Xavier an opportunity to help create real change in the Kansas City community. He joined the team in January of 2018, and he’s been fighting food insecurity one meal at a time ever since!
Party Operations
Amber Booth
Cheryl Reinhardt
Kurt Rietema