Meet Mark Paxton, FBG Board President 2023-24

This is what happens when you mix a Liberal Studies degree with Communications -- creative thinking leads every task. In Mark's case he taught an entertaining English class, wrote for newspapers, and eventually became an editor. When the print media took a downturn, he added grant writing and

project management to his talents which are exactly what the Food Bank Growers needed. Mark had been a board member, then stepped into the VP role and finally as served as FBG President.

Mark is very hands-on when he gets involved with an organization. Before he became joined the Food Bank Growers, his last career stop was that as Development Director at the Community Food Bank of San Benito, CA. Whileour Food Banksserve an average of 2000 households a month, the Community Food Bank served over 5000. Because the San Benito area was part of the California's "Salad Bowl", thousands of pounds of veggies came to them without asking. It was a great partnership of over-abundance meeting need. Here in Jefferson County we aren't that lucky, so we grow our own abundance.

Today you'll find him working at the Jefferson County Library, applying that hori-hori knife to the weeds at the Quimper Grange Garden or helping on the FBG Plant Sale along with Barbara Tusting and Mary Paxton.

Mark believes that you should always be working yourself out of a job --

"The better you do, the greater the pockets of need manifest and bring others to the solution." 

Thanks for your efforts, Mark, FBG is better because of you and the weeds are not!