Once a Pantry Recipient, Now a Board Member

PHOTO: Camille Berry, Board Member, PORCH Communities (left) with Christine Cotton, PORCH Communities Founder

A full circle story

Board member of PORCH Communities, Camille Berry’s story with PORCH has come completely full circle. Today, she proudly serves as a board member for PORCH, helping to reduce hunger and provide community support across the country. But before stepping into this leadership position, Camille knew firsthand what it meant to struggle with food insecurity.

“For about five years, I struggled with providing enough food for my family,” Camille said. “My income had gone down, I had changed jobs, and found myself in between full-time jobs – it was a struggle.”

Finding support in PORCH partners

During this hard time, Camille and her family temporarily moved in with friends, as they worked to get back on their feet, and relied on pantries operated by community organizations such as the Interfaith Council for Social Services (IFC) and the Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA). Years later, she learned that those same pantries she leaned on were supported by PORCH.

Now, as a board member, Camille sustains PORCH’s legacy by building partnerships and connecting donors, volunteers, struggling families, and local organizations to its work. 

“The most rewarding part is … that we do it together”

“The most rewarding part is not just the work that we do, but that we do it together,” Camille said. “It is fabulous work to be in partnership with others who want to do something without expectation of receiving anything back.”

In only two years in this role, Camille has seen PORCH blossom. PORCH continues to make a name for itself and grow in partnerships, chapters across the country, and volunteers.

Camille encourages people to get involved and donate because hunger affects so many people in so many different ways, and all it takes is a small investment of money or time.

“When doing this work, it is not about seeing our names associated with something,” Camille said. “It’s about seeing our spirit combined with other spirits and helping this community thrive. And this community could be right here in our neighborhood or it could be nationwide and if we’re lucky, it goes worldwide and I see that happening with PORCH.