About Us

Our Mission

Together, we connect, share, and celebrate nutritious food, education, and community. 

Vision

Creating communities where everyone has the right and opportunity to eat well, be nourished, and thrive.  

Bounty & Soul Manifesto

We believe in the power of commUNITY

We believe food is a human right.

Food is love. Food is medicine. Food is justice. 

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We know our farmers and they know us.

We honor their work as sacred. 

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Knowledge is power and communities are wise.

Communities have the resources to care for each other. 

Together, we are creating a food and health system
where everyone has the opportunity to eat well,
be nourished and thrive. 

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Everyone has a right to abundance and to define their well-being on their own terms.

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We welcome you. 

We value you as a whole person.

We will greet you by name.

We choose love. 

Bounty & Soul is proud to be a living wage certified employer.

Our Team

Those who dedicate their time and passion to fulfilling our mission!

Our Staff

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Ali Casparian

Executive Director and Founder

Ali is the Founder and Executive Director of Bounty & Soul, a non-profit organization co-creating healthy communities by connecting people to food, education and each other through a ...

ali@bountyandsoul.org

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Ali is the Executive Director and Founder of Bounty & Soul, a non-profit organization co-creating healthy communities by connecting people to food, education and each other through a no cost cooperative model.

Ali graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muhlenberg College and spent over 25 years as a director in the food industry in New York. After a near-death experience, Ali left the corporate life to pursue a path of holistic health and wellness in North Carolina. She received her certification as a Health and Wellness Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, the largest nutrition school in the world and is also an Advanced Food-Healing Certified Instructor from the Supreme Science Qi Gong Center. During this time, she found herself food insecure and not able to access nutritious foods and seeing many others in the same situation. Ali founded Bounty & Soul in 2014 after experiencing the urgent need to bridge the gap between food security and whole person health. Her passion and experience with growing and preparing healthy foods, natural healing, leading and connecting with people led her to start the organization. Through Bounty & Soul, Ali has created a place where people can gather, feel valued and be inspired to make healthy choices, no matter where they are in their life.

Besides her role as Executive Director, Ali frequently shares her expertise and experience in food security, health & wellness and community engagement through public speaking engagements and panel discussions.

Ali has received many leadership and community service awards. She has been honored with WLOS TV (Asheville, NC) Person of the Week, eTown’s eChievement Award, Rotary Club’s John K. Abernathy Service Award, and NY Mayoral “Leadership During Crisis” Award for 9/11.

Ali, and the work of Bounty & Soul, has also been featured in the November 2019 issue of Eating Well Magazine.

Personally, Ali enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking and spending time with family.

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Paula Sellars M.S.W.

Associate Director

Paula’s expertise is human development and social change. As Deputy Director of Bounty & Soul, she works with our team to ensure that the heart of our mission is achieved in all of our programs. ...

paula@bountyandsoul.org

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Paula’s expertise is human development and social change. As Deputy Director of Bounty & Soul, she works with our team to ensure that the heart of our mission is achieved in all of our programs. She works with community stakeholders to identify future needs and desires in the community and steer the organization toward the collaborative fulfillment of those aspirations.

Formerly a family therapist and cranio-sacral therapist, she specialized in family systems, adolescence, and trauma recovery. Paula is the originator of the training methodology, Docutraining®, a community-based, scalable, trauma-informed training approach to social change movements that impact public health. As such, Paula is the curriculum developer of Darkness to Light’s award-winning, evidence-based Stewards of Children®, an international child sexual abuse prevention Docutraining® and suite of associated trainings that effect behavior-change in child protection. Paula is also the developer of Docutraining® for older adults and family caregivers that shift the paradigm of aging to partnership and mutual contribution. As co-owner and trainer with Phoenix Possibilities, Paula taught the Cliff Jumping® Program and other leadership development programs for individuals, couples, and organizational groups. As a social change agent, she weaves her knowledge and experience to inspire vitality, integrity, and community action.

Paula enjoys the outdoors, cooking and entertaining friends, film-making, astrology, and consciousness studies. She is happiest in big, collaborative projects that impact large systems.

Linda

Linda Cohen

Director of Business & Finance

Linda is our Director of Business & Finance and has been working for non-profits in this role for over 35 years.  Committed to leading organizations in their financial growth and planning, she...

linda@bountyandsoul.org

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Linda is our Director of Business & Finance and has been working for non-profits in this role for over 35 years. Committed to leading organizations in their financial growth and planning, she has worked alongside Executive leadership in strategic planning and implementing policies and practices that align with the organization’s mission, vision and long-term goals. Her interests outside of work include gardening, hiking, and experimenting with new homemade soup and bread recipes.

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Claudie Babineaux

Director of Food and Farms

Claudie is happy to be joining the team at Bounty & Soul.  She started as a delivery driver and soon became the Director of Food and Farms. After spending several years as a Park...

claudie@bountyandsoul.org

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Claudie is happy to be joining the team at Bounty & Soul.  She started as a delivery driver and soon became the Director of Food and Farms. After spending several years as a Park Ranger and later a Firefighter/EMT, Claudie found her calling in sustainable agriculture. She has spent the last ten years managing farms throughout the southeast ranging from small-scale market gardens to a large-scale CSA farm. She also spent several years managing the student farm at the University of Florida which provided food for the on-campus food pantry as well as other local food pantries. Claudie is passionate about food security and is excited to be a part of the community of individuals working towards reducing hunger and making food available to all.

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Sarah Bostick

Director of Special Projects

As Director of Special Projects, Sarah leads the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Program, creates and strengthens systems across Bounty & Soul's operations, and....

sarah@bountyandsoul.org

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As Director of Special Projects, Sarah leads the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Program, creates and strengthens systems across Bounty & Soul's operations, and develops ideas into new endeavors to support food access and wellness in our community.

Sarah has spent over twenty years working in local food systems, most recently as the HOP Program Lead at Bounty & Soul. Her food systems experience runs the gamut from independent food systems consultant specializing in farms, food hubs, and food access to being a Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent with the University of Florida, helping hundreds of farmers and homeowners improve the sustainability of their growing practices and the quality of their final products. The first sixteen years of her career she was an organic vegetable and cut flower farmer. Ten of the sixteen years were also spent starting and managing a food hub that focused on low-income access to local produce, managing the teaching and marketing for a refugee farmer training program, and consulting with food hubs and small-scale farmers to enhance their competitiveness in wholesale markets. When she is not working, she is busy hiking, fixing up her old house, and digging in the garden.

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Whit Zeh

Development Manager

Whit is a passionate community builder dedicated to fostering authentic connections that strengthen community ties...

whit@bountyandsoul.org

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Whit is a passionate community builder dedicated to fostering authentic connections that strengthen community ties. With experience in community relations, development, corporate giving, and event planning, she enjoys creating impactful partnerships that drive engagement and lasting support. An advocate for her community, Whit actively seeks to understand and address its unique needs, working to make a positive difference.

Her career spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, bringing a holistic perspective to outreach and development that highlights the importance of nurturing relationships to promote health, wellness, and unity. Whit holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts and has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, complemented by seven years in corporate community outreach.

During her free time, Whit finds joy in hiking with her beloved pups, immersing herself in the world of music, teaching and practicing yoga and meditation and delving into the intricacies of nutrition and nourishing meals. She is deeply appreciative of the breathtaking Appalachian mountains, where she lives with her husband and two sons.

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Karla Gardner

Community Engagement Manager

Karla relishes in connecting with participants, gleaning and sorting produce from local farms and ...

karla@bountyandsoul.org

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Karla joined our team as Director of Operations in 2016 after serving as a full-time volunteer, helping behind the scenes and spearheading the pilot program, The Cookbook Project. She previously worked with hunger relief organizations for more than four years, managing volunteers and community outreach efforts following a year of service with AmeriCorps. She has always been passionate about helping people which drew her to pursue Sociology and Anthropology in college.

Karla relishes in connecting with participants, gleaning and sorting produce from local farms and takes pride in knowing that this food is finding a home rather than going to waste. She looks forward to the possibilities that are to come in the food security sector and the shift to making a lifestyle of health and wellness accessible to everyone, regardless of income and life situation.

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Francisco Chavez

Community Engagement Manager

Francisco is originally from Mexico and has been living in the USA for more than 22 years. His favorite hobbies are: music, dancing, and  ...

francisco@bountyandsoul.org

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Francisco is originally from Mexico and has been living in the USA for more than 22 years. His favorite hobbies are: music, dancing, and outdoor activities. He is a happy person and loves to make people around him laugh. If you see him dancing, it is because he is also a Zumba instructor! He loves life and is fascinated by what he does. He considers himself a very lucky person to have so many good people around him!

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Dani Potts

Rooted in Health Manager

Dani grew up in Santa Cruz, California and came to North Carolina to complete her Bachelors and Masters degree in Nutrition ...

dani@bountyandsoul.org

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Dani grew up in Santa Cruz, California and came to North Carolina to complete her Bachelors and Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Appalachian State University. She has three years of experience working with nonprofits where she found an interest in food insecurity and serving her community. Dani is a Registered Dietitian and Yoga Instructor and has recently moved to Asheville to begin her career as a Dietitian. She believes that food is medicine and that everyone deserves access to resources to help nourish their bodies. She is passionate about the mind body connection and helping individuals be their healthiest self to live life to the fullest! Dani enjoys being outdoors, doing yoga, running, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

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Tatiana Rivest

Events & Donor Administrator

Tatiana is originally from Montreal and has been living in WNC since 2015. She started her career in nonprofit work...

tatiana@bountyandsoul.org

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Tatiana is originally from Montreal and has been living in WNC since 2015. She started her career in nonprofit work in 2004 and has focused on mission-driven special events and programs for the last 12 years. She’s spent countless late night post-event hours distributing surplus food and flowers to members of her community rather than letting the excess go to waste. You can find her studying horticulture, exploring with her 5 year old, or in the garden growing food for as many people as she can.

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Aly Pagano

Farmers Alliance Associate

Aly is a local to WNC and has worked in food production for most of her life. From the FFA to Heifer International...

alyp@bountyandsoul.org

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Aly is a local to WNC and has worked in food production for most of her life. From the FFA to Heifer International to local plant nurseries, Aly is excited to bring her love of agriculture and community together at Bounty & Soul. Her love of the outdoors consumes most of her hobbies including hiking, backpacking, fishing, disc golf, running, and gardening. Aly recently completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail (2023) and has returned home with a renewed sense of community that she brings to the Bounty & Soul team.

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Anthony Dyrattana

Food Distribution Associate

Anthony has about seven years worth of experience within a warehouse or distribution center. Prior to being in a warehouse...

anthony@bountyandsoul.org

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Anthony has about seven years worth of experience within a warehouse or distribution center. Prior to being in a warehouse he lived on the coast of North Carolina and worked on a maintenance crew for the parks and recreation department. He's a graduate from UNCA with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Ecology and Biology. He and his partner love to hike, mountain bike, climb at a gym, garden, and all sorts of other activities. They absolutely love pets! They have a dog, two cats, a Holland lop rabbit, and nine chickens. Anthony says Bounty and Soul is a life changer for him, and being a part of this organization has brought an immense amount of joy to his life.

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Eliza Randolph

Staff Accountant

Eliza is originally from Longview, Washington, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics from Western...

eliza@bountyandsoul.org

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Eliza is originally from Longview, Washington, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics from Western Washington University in 2019. With a diverse background in accounting for small businesses, the Boys and Girls Club, and affordable housing property management, she is eager to apply her skills at Bounty & Soul. After several moves as a Coast Guard family, Eliza is excited to finally settle down and call this area home. Outside of work, she cherishes time spent with friends and family, immersing herself in good books, enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, and loves spending time outdoors.

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Chelsea Gillespie

Marketing & Comm. Specialist

Chelsea hails from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and holds a degree in Environmental Policy along with a Master’s in Public...

chelsea@bountyandsoul.org

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Chelsea hails from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and holds a degree in Environmental Policy along with a Master’s in Public Administration. After working in sustainable energy in San Diego, she developed a strong passion for mission-driven marketing. Having moved with her family multiple times, Chelsea enjoys traveling with her children to remote destinations and immersing her family in diverse cultures. While she’s spent many years on the road, Asheville is now home. There, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, photography, playing basketball, coaching her kids’ sports teams, and tending to an abundant garden. The similarities between building sustainable food systems and strong energy grids led Chelsea to Bounty & Soul, where she is excited to bring her expertise in both digital and traditional marketing to support the organization’s impactful mission.

Healthy Opportunities Pilot Team (HOP)

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Jane Volgeman Lubbers

Certified Health Coach & Educator, HOP

Jane’s background is in environmental /adventure education, health and wellness coaching, yoga, and health education…

jane@bountyandsoul.org

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Jane’s background is in environmental/ adventure education, health and wellness coaching, yoga, and health education… Jane worked in the environmental and adventure education field for many years. Through trip leading and experiential science teaching for many camps and outdoor schools, instructing for Outward Bound, and serving as the Director of the Mountain Trail Outdoor School, she learned that the hands- on approach to teaching creates lasting memories, skills, and builds confidence. She took this philosophy into the kitchen in working with Bounty & Soul to create the Green Aprons program, a hands-on cooking program geared towards teaching middle schoolers the skills for healthy cooking and eating. Jane has taken her love of teaching and wellness abroad in working with a bilingual school in Costa Rica to develop and facilitate a wellness program for their primary school. Jane is a Holistic Health Coach who partners with clients to help them improve their health in an attainable and simple way. Jane assists clients in identifying their health goals and helps them make a road map to success. Her approach is non-judgmental, open, honest, and encouraging. She understands that we all have different needs, and caters her coaching to the individual. Through the process of health coaching, Jane guides clients in making lasting behavior changes. Jane received her coaching training from Duke Integrative Medicine where she had the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field of Integrative Health Coaching. She has also earned her 500 hr. yoga teaching certification through Yandara Yoga and Asheville Yoga training programs. Jane is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and a 500 hour Registered Yoga teacher (RYT-500).

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Krystal Herrmann

HOP Program Associate

Krystal was born and raised in the Midwest and moved to East Asheville in 2019. Her educational and professional background is in nutrition and public health…

krystal@bountyandsoul.org

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Krystal was born and raised in the Midwest and moved to East Asheville in 2019. Her educational and professional background is in nutrition and public health. Krystal’s experience ranges from years in a hospital setting as a dietetic technician to working as a program coordinator for a water quality research nonprofit in Omaha, NE. After working in the legal field for several years, Krystal’s enthusiasm for nutrition and community engagement reignited and her journey with Bounty & Soul began. In her free time, Krystal enjoys cooking, hiking, paddleboarding, and traveling.

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Tenley Reeder

HOP Distribution Support

Tenley moved to Asheville in the summer of 2022, a year after graduating from Hood College with her BA in Marketing & Communications. She has …

tenley@bountyandsoul.org

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Tenley moved to Asheville in the summer of 2022, a year after graduating from Hood College with her BA in Marketing & Communications. She has fallen in love with Asheville’s native flora and fauna, heart-warming community, and abundant art-scene. Tenley became passionate about equal opportunity for healthy foods after experiencing unexplained health conditions that only dissipated with a diet of fresh, homemade foods. Providing others with the same opportunity, no matter their circumstance, inspired Tenley to volunteer with Bounty & Soul. She is grateful to now be a part of the HOP team and is eager to bring the magic of healthy foods to the community with a smile. You can find Tenley snuggling her orange cat, practicing yoga, and wandering local markets!

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Ellie Boye

HOP Program Associate

Ellie grew up in Davidson, North Carolina and lived there until moving to Gettysburg, PA to attend Gettysburg College. After graduating in 2022 with a degree in …

ellie@bountyandsoul.org

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Ellie grew up in Davidson, North Carolina and lived there until moving to Gettysburg, PA to attend Gettysburg College. After graduating in 2022 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Religious Studies, Ellie spent a year of service as a Corps Member in AmeriCorps NCCC in the Pacific Region. Following this service year, she found the AmeriCorps NC program, Project POWER, in Asheville, NC, which led her to Bounty & Soul as the Community Food Distribution Assistant. In this position, her passion for increasing access to healthy food was ignited. She has recently transitioned to working with the HOP team full time. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and backpacking, reading, and trying new recipes!

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Justin Hartis

HOP Distribution Support

Justin is an Asheville native who has lived in the area his whole life.  Growing up with an instilled worker's mentality, he has worked anywhere from restaurant line…

justin@bountyandsoul.org

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Justin is an Asheville native who has lived in the area his whole life. Growing up with an instilled worker's mentality, he has worked anywhere from restaurant line cook to warehouse management and the skills he has picked up throughout the years have culminated in being a great fit for the HOP team. He has also earned his CNA which shows his compassion and empathy and is perfect for interacting with clients and coworkers on a daily basis.

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Sarah Tisinger

AmeriCorps Member

Sarah is a Western Carolina University Alumni, Class of 2023, with a degree in Emergency & Disaster Management, International Relations, and …

sarahtisinger@bountyandsoul.org

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Sarah is a Western Carolina University Alumni, Class of 2023, with a degree in Emergency & Disaster Management, International Relations, and Leadership Theory. Throughout her Undergraduate journey, Sarah was involved in the creation and implementation of two community grants that created emergency care kits for students across Western North Carolina; wherein, she served alongside various Non-Profits among Jackson, Haywood, and Buncombe County. From the Fall of 2023 – Summer of 2024, Sarah worked alongside the Southwest Region AmeriCorps N.C.C.C. program, living and assisting Missouri, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado communities. We are excited to welcome Sarah as this year’s Bounty & Soul, Healthy Opportunities Pilot and Benevolence Box Program, AmeriCorps Member!

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Jamie Shelor

HOP Distribution Support

Jamie has spent several years working for local farms in Western North Carolina since she moved here in the summer of 2021. Her passion for regenerative agriculture…

jamie@bountyandsoul.org

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Jamie has spent several years working for local farms in Western North Carolina since she moved here in the summer of 2021. Her passion for regenerative agriculture led her to a position with Bounty & Soul as a Farmers Alliance Intern in the summer of 2024. She was thrilled to find the connection between farming, food security, and community work that she'd been looking for. This position led to a role as HOP Distribution Support and she's thrilled to continue working in a role that increases access to healthy produce. Jamie will graduate UNC Asheville with an art degree in the spring of 2025. When she's not working she's printmaking, playing the fiddle or guitar, cooking, gardening, and much more!

Contractors & Facilitators

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Suzanne Serbia

Marketing & Graphic Design Support

Suzanne has been with Bounty & Soul since its inception, always using her skills, past experiences, and talents to help the organization...

suzanne@bountyandsoul.org

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Suzanne has been with Bounty & Soul since its inception, always using her skills, past experiences, and talents to help the organization. Suzanne has had leadership roles in Information Technology supporting Marketing Initiatives and building/managing Design Teams in a Fortune 500 company. After a career in corporate life, Suzanne now uses her artistic abilities and her desire to build relationships with the senior population in her area to lead Art Workshops in Assisted Living facilities. Inspired by her workshops, she has created and published three Coloring Books that feature her artwork, poetry and short stories. Suzanne resides in Connecticut. When not working on her computer, Suzanne loves being outdoors, taking walks, gardening and star gazing.

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Tara Leammookda

Zumba Instructor

Operations Manager by day/Zumba Instructor by night. I've lived in NC for most of my life, and grew up dancing with my grandparents in Connecticut. Dancing ...

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Operations Manager by day/Zumba Instructor by night. I've lived in NC for most of my life, and grew up dancing with my grandparents in Connecticut. Dancing developed into a lifelong passion and led me to Zumba. I've been a Zumba Instructor for 6 years and it has allowed me to connect with people from around the world. In just one hour, a Zumba Class can help you forget your worries, free your mind and transport you to your happy place.

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Jefferson "Fitz" Fitzpatrick

Driver and Community Liaison

Fitz has been transporting food and supporting the community of Bounty and Soul since 2020. He feels that being a part of the team...

 

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Fitz has been transporting food and supporting the community of Bounty and Soul since 2020. He feels that being a part of the team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. Fitz's perspective on food security, wellness, and community service continues to deepen and expand with each shift that he performs. In his time outside of Bounty & Soul Fitz is a recording artist, a songwriter, and a poet. He manages and cares for a handful of properties around town, and enjoys quality time with family, friends and mama nature. Fitz looks forward to being a part of this community's growth, and he holds love at the center of his work with Bounty & Soul.

    

Board of Directors

Dave Charlton
Board Chair

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Dave is the son of the son of a preacher man, growing up in the Methodist church in North Carolina and Virginia. He and his wife moved to Asheville 19 years ago to live where they could be close to kids and grandkids. Dave spent his working career in various roles with telecommunications companies including executive roles in Business Development and Information Technology and had his own consulting company. He’s recently changed careers and is doing what he loves, largely volunteer/board work with Bounty & Soul. Dave enjoys most all outdoor adventure activities, serving on non-profit boards, and being with family which includes two children and two grandchildren. He’s very excited about the vision and future of Bounty & Soul.

Esteve Coll

Esteve Coll-Larrosa

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Esteve was born in the city of Tarragona, in the Spanish region of Catalonia. He moved to California in 1995 and to North Carolina in 1999; he lives in Black Mountain and works at Artspace Charter School as the Business and Operations Manager. He is honored to support an organization like Bounty & Soul that advocates for fair and sustainable healthy food production and distribution while building community. Before joining the Board of Directors, Esteve and his wife Michelle volunteered at the Friday market in Black Mountain where the energy is contagious. Esteve enjoys any outdoor activity as well as cooking good Spanish food, like tortillas and paellas.

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Steve Coward ND

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Originally from New Jersey and upstate New York, Steve has spent the last twenty-odd years as a naturopathic physician in Asheville. Bounty and Soul’s vision of giving everyone the chance to “eat well, be nourished, and thrive” dovetails well with a career in which food is medicine. He is an advocate of fresh air, exercise, healthy food, meditation, and plenty of sleep. In his spare time, Steve loves reading and meditation, hiking, boating, fishing, golf, travelling, helping out anyone who needs help, spending time with his wife and their adult children, laughing, and eating healthy food!!

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Dan Davis

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Dan is originally from Lakeland, Florida. He fell in love with the mountains after numerous camping trips to the Smokies growing up. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Black Mountain following graduate school in 1994 and have called it home ever since. Dan is the founder of Animate Mentoring. Animate partners with individuals and families as they journey through the many transitions that life demands. Before Animate, Dan worked in youth and family development for over 30 years at Camp Rockmont and served on the Board of the American Camp Association (SE). He is excited about the life-changing difference that accessible, healthy food and relationships can make in our community.

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Victor Dostrow MD

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Victor G. Dostrow MD is a neurologist, epileptologist (epilepsy/seizure doctor)and neuropharmacologist. With a long history of working in academic medicine, teaching hospitals and other public and private hospital settings, he practiced most recently at the Asheville VAMC. Dr. Dostrow has been an educator in various medical settings for nearly forty years. He has a long interest in nutrition as a contributing factor in neurologic disease. Over the last thirty or so years, he has served on the boards of a variety of nonprofit organizations, and has gained substantial experience in, and knowledge of, this sector. He and his wife moved to Asheville in 2008. In his off time, he is a competitive (but rather slow) runner. He is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Bounty & Soul to help offset the damaging effects of poor nutrition on brain and overall health.

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Amy Joy Lanou Ph.D.

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Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., is professor of health and wellness and the executive director of the North Carolina Center of Health and Wellness for the University of North Carolina Asheville. In addition, she serves as program director for the Master of Public Health Program in Asheville at UNC Health Sciences at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). Dr. Lanou spends much of her time leading teams in public health workforce development, in advancing evidence-based programs for health promotion, in evaluation and technical assistance, and supporting a culture of health on WNC campuses. Her research interests include nutrition and health promotion policy, nutrition for the prevention of chronic disease and health promotion, and strategies for supporting healthy eating patterns. Amy has been a huge fan of Bounty & Soul, and its focus on providing healthy plant-sourced foods to people who need it. As a nutritionist, gardener, and foodie, she is enthusiastic to support Bounty & Soul as a board member and volunteer.

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Anna Stearns

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Anna Stearns is the owner and managing partner of Sneed & Stearns, P.A., a boutique law firm in Black Mountain, NC, where her practice focuses on real property, estate planning and administration, and civil litigation. A graduate of Campbell University School of Law, Anna previously served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Chief Justice Cheri Beasley before returning to her mountain roots to carry on the work of her mentor, Ronald Sneed.

Anna’s decision to join the board of Bounty & Soul is deeply personal. Having experienced food insecurity and homelessness as a child, she is passionate about ensuring everyone in the community has access to fresh, nourishing food. She is inspired by the organization’s commitment to supporting local farmers while addressing food inequities, and she brings her professional expertise and personal passion to her service on the board.

When not at work or volunteering, Anna enjoys hiking the trails of western North Carolina and spending time with her two adult sons, Dylan and Daniel.

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Tom Tracy

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Tom is a committed partner to his wife Libba, an educator, musician, and community maker who has been living in these western Carolina mountains for the past twenty years. He currently teaches writing process and writing workshop to middle school writers at The Learning Community School and has been doing that for a very long time. He also directs musical theater in their performing arts program, working with the entire school community to create an inspiring opportunity for young actors from kindergarten to eighth grade to express themselves. His commitment to community has taken many forms, most notably on the board of the Phoenix Youth At Risk organization in Arizona and on the board of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts in its formative years. Tom loves being with his family and friends, also pushing and pulling things on his tractor, playing tennis, and is currently resurrecting his band, The Dead Poets.

Advisory Board

Donna Bailey

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Originally from New Jersey, Donna spent 20 years in various marketing positions from RI to SC. Donna has been involved in philanthropy for over 40 years including the Red Cross, MUSC Children’s Hospital, Guardian ad Litem, Sistercare, UNC Asheville, WCMA first president to finding Bounty & Soul.

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Rhonda Devan

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Rhonda is a certified public accountant with deep expertise in nonprofit financial management, audit, and consulting. She is dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations through clear, actionable financial insights, helping to strengthen operational frameworks and drive long-term sustainability. Rhonda has held key finance leadership roles, enhancing financial reporting, ensuring compliance, and supporting strategic growth for nonprofits and private colleges.

Rhonda’s support for Bounty & Soul reflects her commitment to organizations that focus on holistic well-being and sustainable community impact. She admires Bounty & Soul’s dedication to providing healthy food, nutrition education, and support for local communities, and is honored to contribute her expertise to further its mission.

Ben Aiken2 Advisor

Dr. Ben Aiken

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Ben is a family physician interested in the re-emergence of primary care and societal wellness through clinic and system-level innovation and design. He completed international studies, public health, and medical degrees at UNC Chapel Hill before family medicine residency and a year on faculty at MAHEC in Asheville, NC. He then founded Lantern Health, a direct primary care practice where he seeks to redefine the experience of primary care and still practices alongside additional entrepreneurial pursuits. With food and community being central in health and wellbeing, he believes strongly in the transformative work of Bounty & Soul.

Our Volunteers

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Volunteers are the heartbeat of Bounty & Soul. We couldn’t operate without their service, dedication, and commitment. Every week our volunteers donate their time and talents to improving the health and well-being of their fellow community members. With over 350 active volunteers, they are responsible for loading and unloading trucks, displaying the bounty of food, helping our participants select their food, assisting with educating on healthy ways to prepare the food, offering a hug or kind word to another…the list goes on. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life, please reach out to us below or email Karla. We would love for you to join our volunteer family.

Find out more by Clicking Here

Our Partners

Bounty & Soul believes that collaboration and relationships are essential to achieve both its short-term and long-term goals. We are deeply grateful for these relationships, and we support the growth of each organization’s respective missions. Bounty & Soul will continue to focus on building strong and mutually beneficial relationships as we grow, reach more people, and transform lives.

View our Partners