For the first time in more than 30 years, the River Bend Food Bank has a new leader. This week, Mike Miller took over as executive director from Tom Laughlin who founded it in 1982.
Miller comes to the Quad Cities from northeast Ohio where he served as vice president of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. That organization distributed 40 million meals last year compared to about 10 million for River Bend.
Miller says among his first jobs is to get to know his staff of 18.
He calls the problem an "epidemic" in the US because an estimated 1 of every 6 people, or about 17 per cent, are considered hungry - that is they're missing meals "not by choice."
After 6 years in Cleveland, he came here because he wanted to run a food bank himself, and because he has some family connections to the area.
He credits Laughlin, and his wife Caren, for doing a wonderful job.
Miller says the Laughlins have been training him, and promised to be available to help in the future.
Last year, the River Bend Foodbank distributed 10 million meals to needy residents of 22 counties in two states. Also last year, it moved from its long-time location in downtown Moline to a much larger warehouse in southwest Davenport.
