Our Team | Blessings in a Backpack

Hermine Bernstein

Program Coordinator

In November 2013, after increased awareness about hunger among Frederick’s children, I partnered with the national Blessings in a Backpack organization to establish a Frederick Chapter. In Jan. 2014, BIAB began feeding 210 children in one local school. Thanks to amazing community support and a strong volunteer base, BIAB currently feeds 3,100 low-income children in 21 local schools. This is a true labor of love. Our goal is to add 1,000 thousands more children by the end of 2023. Watch my video presentation at the Impact Club, which provided support for Blessings in a Backpack Frederick in 2018.

Barbara Dillon

Operations Coordinator

I’ve been involved with BIAB Frederick since 2015, when I started packing food bags at Orchard Grove ES. I now serve on the BIAB Steering Committee and am one of the founders of the Blessings in a Backpack Fund at the Community Foundation of Frederick. Volunteering my time with BIAB is meaningful to me as a way to help our local children who may be growing up in circumstances which can make school more difficult. The earlier we provide needed support for these children the better their lives and our community will be.

Vicki Moore

Food Purchasing Coordinator

There are two areas that inspire me that is the young and the old. When I heard about what Blessing In A Backpack does for children in my community I was called to help. This is a well run wonderful program. How can one not be touched by hungry children.

Mary Ann Harris

Volunteer Coordinator

The holiday season of 2017 brought me to BIAB. While wrapping books with Karen Fishburn, I was introduced to packing at Waverley, which continues to be a terrific experience each week. My expanded role of volunteer coordinator came in Oct. 2018 as a way to help with the many emails that are received through the national and local website. It is an honor and a pleasure to volunteer with an organization that is helping to meet the basic needs of people in our community.

Roy Rahmati

Community Outreach Coordinator

I was a School Coordinator with BIAB for 2 years. I started as the Co-Coordinator for Urbana Elementary School where my children attended and later became one of the Co-Coordinators for the Urbana/Monrovia Cluster of schools which includes Urbana, Centerville, and Green Valley Elementary schools. My dedication to this program is driven by the kids we serve every week. Hunger doesn’t take weekends off!

Melani Drummer

School Coordinator, Carroll Manor E.S.

I have been the coordinator of the CMES/MVM cluster for about a year. I am so grateful to be able to serve our students and be able to show love by ensuring nobody goes hungry.

Rebecca DeGioia

School Coordinator, Centerville E.S.

Happy to be part of the BIAB Frederick team, Urbana Cluster!

Rita Powell

Co-Coordinator, Frederick Classical Charter School

Hello, my name is Rita Powell. I joined the BIAB team in 2017 as a volunteer packing with MOES and am now into my first year co-coordinating for FCCS. I had heard about it while at an elementary school event I was volunteering at for my then 4th and 5th grade daughters. I have served in the Navy for 20 years, I am married to my husband of 16 years, who is a Navy Reservist and am the mother of five beautiful children. As an Active Duty service member, it was good for me to step away from work for just a little while to give back to the community that I have been blessed to call home since 2010. I much prefer to make a difference behind the scenes, and BIAB did just that. It breaks my heart to see the numbers of children that are in need of our help, but the healing comes knowing that we (every single partner and volunteer) are the silent heroes that truly make a difference in over 2600 children’s lives E.V.E.R.Y. single week. In the world of no child left behind…. I say no child should ever be left wondering where their next meal is coming from!

Laura Boston

School Coordinator, Glade E.S.

I have lived in Walkersville for 13 years. I am currently a work from home mom to 3 beautiful children. I have 2 boys (13 and 6) and a daughter who is 10. I have a background as an RN and love helping others. I’m very excited to be part of the team for Glade Elementary school.

Denise Armentrout

School Coordinator, Green Valley E.S.

Over 3 years ago, I was at the Buzz and read a BIAB info sheet that was on the table. I liked the fact that local kids were being helped and knew it was something I would enjoy doing.

Stacy Bokinsky

School Coordinator, Lewistown E.S.

My name is Stacy Bokinsky. I am the school counselor at Lewistown Elementary School. Blessings in a Backpack is a wonderful program that is a tremendous help to our students. I am thrilled to be a part of helping others!

Sharon Brown

Co-Coordinator, Lincoln E.S.

Several years ago I watched a segment on the news about Blessings in a Backpack and thought “I want to do that when I retire.” I’m now retired, recently moved to Frederick and began helping the organization. I’m excited to serve the students and community.

Trisha Gaskill

School Coordinator, Lincoln E.S.

I was born and raised in Frederick, graduating from GTJHS. After college I moved out of state. After 20 years living in WA and PA, I moved back to Frederick with my husband and two sons. I have only been with BIAB for a short time. I started packing at two schools in January 2019. In March I was asked to be part of the team at Lincoln Elem. I am excited to work along side of all the wonderful volunteers that help each week to feed almost 400 children.

Jody Sullivan

School Coordinator, Monocacy E.S.

I am a Mom of four with my youngest at MOES in third grade. I have been involved with BIAB since it first began at MOES as a volunteer. in 2019 I took on the position of the School Coordinator for MOES. I also work as a Legal Staff Coordinator in a Law Firm in DC where I have been for nearly 18 years. It has been amazing to see how much BIAB has grown.

Salimeh Khaleeli

Co-Coordinator at MOMS

I joined BIAB back in 2014 when my son was at OGES. I was shocked at the amount of kids at the school who go hungry. This was my way of giving back to a community that my child and family are a part of.

Angie Harpster

Co-coordinator, Monocacy M.S.

I have been volunteering with BIAB since February 2017. I pack at OGES and am the co-coordinator at MOMS cluster. I feel drawn to BIAB as we are able to provide a basic need to a child. No child should be hungry.

Jennifer Leader Anderson

Co-Coordinator, Monocacy Valley Montessori & North Frederick

I am very honored to be a part of this wonderful program! I recently began as the coordinator for MVMPCS and I look forward to helping to feed the 2,600+ students that benefit from this program in Frederick County.

Crissy Ladlee

Co-Coordinator, North Frederick E.S.

This is my first year with BIAB. We just moved to the area this year. I’m excited about helping in our new community especially with children.

Erin Lawrence

School Coordinator, Parkway E.S.

When I am not on the farm, volunteering with Civitan, or climbing aerial silks, I can be found enjoying time with my family. The Frederick community is amazing and I am very excited to be involved with Blessings in a Backpack.

Rachel Sessions

SUCCESS Counselor, LCPC

I am the Counselor for the SUCCESS Program and have been working with Blessings since I started here four years ago. BIAB is meaningful to me because it helps to ensure that no student will go hungry on the weekends. I have had so many students and families tell me that they depend on BIAB and they are extremely grateful for this service. I feel proud to be part of something that helps so many in such a big way!

Jonathan Carothers

School Coordinator, Tuscarora E.S.

I’ve been the TUES School Coordinator since it started in 2017-2018. Currently we pack for 130 students every week. My wife Jeria also plays a key role in helping with BIAB at Tuscarora. My two amazing girls, Alexis and Zoe also help. I also head up the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program…Fathers and Father Figures spend a day in the school with all grade levels. Originally from Ohio, I have moved quite a bit but have called Maryland home for the last 18 years.

Angela Abrishami

Co-coordinator, Urbana Cluster

I have been volunteering with Blessings in a Backpack since 2017. I find joy in volunteering my time to my community and hope to inspire others to do so as well. I enjoy sharing this time with my own children and teaching them to help others in their own community.

Kimberly Kile

Co-coordinator, Urbana Cluster

I have been volunteering with BIAB since 2017 and enjoyed working the program so much that in 2020 I became a co-coordinator for our cluster. I enjoy helping to feed students and families in my community each week.

Shannon Kelley

School Coordinator, Walkersville E.S.

In 2017, I started volunteering with BIAB at Walkersville Elementary. This is an amazing program that makes sure that no child goes hungry and I’m proud to be a part of it!

Debbie Dunnigan

Co-coordinator, Waverley E.S.

I started with BIAB in 2017 at Waverley which is our home school. I’m a retired Pre K-K teacher. Volunteering with BIAB enables me to stay in touch with the kids and to make sure that every child is fed while allowing me to give back to our community. It’s a joy and privilege to work with great volunteers and the whole BIAB team.

Pete Dunnigan

Co-coordinator, Waverley E.S.

I started with BIAB at Waverley in the Fall of 2017. I wanted to give back to our community & help feed the kids at the same time. Waverley is our “home” school, making it a perfect fit.

Ed Ramsey

Co-coordinator, Whittier E.S.

A U.S. Army veteran and retired from a long career in IT, I spend my time biking, playing pickleball, and volunteering. I’ve volunteered for Blessings in a Backpack since 2018, and am now Co-Coordinator at Whittier Elementary School. I enjoy the time spent serving the community in which I live and working with other volunteers on a mission to feed the hungry.

Candice Poska

Co-coordinator, Whittier E.S.

I have been co-coordinator together with Natasha Cleveland at Whittier Elementary for about one year. Blessings in a Backpack blesses my own life and warms my heart weekly, as we work together with such wonderful volunteers to help feed hungry kids in our community.

Nina Blackner

Family Engagement Coordinator, YMCA of Frederick County Head Start

I’m thrilled to be able to share Blessing in a Backpack with our children. The Head Start Approach to School Readiness means that children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children’s learning, and schools are ready for children. Being ready for school includes having your basic needs met. We provide healthy meals to our children during the week, and I’m excited the BIAB will be filling that need on the weekends.

Randi Gibson

Webmaster

BIAB has always been an organization that I have wanted to be involved in but had a hard time doing so with weird work hours and a toddler at home. When I found out they needed help with their internet presence I was excited to jump on board and am so happy I have been able to help.