Tory Curran has been named the new executive director for Food for Thought, a Rowan County backpack program that sends children from food-insecure families home with easy-to-prepare meals at the end of each school week.
“A passion for social justice has led me to dedicate much of my career to working with children and families who are most in need,” said Curran, who most recently served as a social worker for the LINKS Program in the Rowan-Salisbury public schools. “Food for Thought’s mission to feed food-insecure children in the Rowan-Salisbury School System is taking an important approach to leveling the playing field so that all students are coming to school well-fed and ready to learn.
“Having worked in the Rowan County schools, I have seen first-hand how hunger has a devastating affect on a child’s ability to learn, and I am pleased to now be part of an organization that is working to find a solution to this growing problem. I look forward to working with the board of directors, our network of community and school partners, and our generous donors to build upon and enhance the work of this important organization.”
Curran’s experience serving children includes time as director of interagency affairs with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. Curran has a bachelor of science degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and a master of social work degree from Columbia University with a concentration in children and family policy.
Amy Welch, the founder of Food for Thought and a member of the board of directors, thinks Curran’s experience serving children will make her a great asset to the organization.
“Tory knows how the school system works,” said Welch. “She understands the need. And she also has experience managing large budgets. We are very excited about the future of the Food for Thought program.”
Curran lives in Salisbury and is a member of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church where she teaches Sunday school. She is married to Trevor Eppehimer, who is the academic dean at Hood Theological Seminary. They have two children, Grace and Nicholas.
More information about Food for Thought can be found on the Internet at www.ncfoodforthought.org, or on Facebook. Just search Food for Thought.