About Us
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Feeding Ferry County was born out of frustration. We were no longer willing to watch our neighbors ration their resources or go hungry. So we started on a journey to learn more about food support resources in our county and see what we could do to help the programs that already existed as well as close the gaps to further reduce hunger. We couldn't have imagined where that journey would take us.
Our Story
It was October 27, 2025 and the government shutdown was threatening to keep SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits from being paid out for the month of November. That was something I (Stephanie Connor) was not willing to let my neighbors suffer through. Here in Ferry County, Washington, we have the highest poverty rate and we fall 2nd in line for highest SNAP recipients per capita in the state. With a largely seasonal local economy and a lack of access due to remote location, there is a great need for food support. Armed with that knowledge, I embarked on a mission to educate myself and act.
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For every 9 meals that SNAP provides, food banks provide 1. The only way food pantries stood a chance of providing extra food during this uncertain time was to make sure they had more food to give out. So I started a food drive. I immediately posted on social media and started showing up at local organizations' public meetings to get the word out for support. I also attended pantry days at 2 of our local food banks to get a better understanding of their operations and the community needs. I spoke to volunteers and the community members who were benefiting from these programs. It opened my eyes to depth of food insecurity in our county.
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One of the local meetings I attended was the BPW (Business and Professional Women Republic Chapter) membership meeting. This is where I met Esther Olsen. She heard my presentation and was deeply moved to help me on this food drive mission. We ended up meeting over a late lunch one afternoon and Feeding Ferry County was born.
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Esther saw the gaps that I saw because we both benefited from food support programs at different times in our lives. For me, it was throughout my entire childhood and for Esther it was when she was just getting on her feet as an adult. We knew that we felt called to do more than just get more food and money into the hands of the food banks. Our local food pantries are only open 2-4 days a month. And most people do not have the resources to travel to both locations as they are a 30 minute drive apart. We needed to create more innovative and creative programs to close the gaps between SNAP, food pantry days, and resource locations.
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We toyed around with the idea of little neighborhood food libraries as we were seeing these pop up in other neighborhoods during this time. But living rurally like we do and winter coming on, that wasn't a viable or sustainable option for our county. So the idea for meal kit gift shops was born.
Why do we call them gift shops? Because when you donate to our meal kit program, you are gifting someone love, nourishment, and community. We also want people to retain their dignity to "shop" for something that they would enjoy. Having options is often a luxury that we take for granted. Many people who face food insecurity do not have these options. By allowing them to "shop" for a meal kit or 2, we also give them a chance to take the "what's for dinner" question off the table. We all face decision fatigue and when you don't have options, decision fatigue can be much worse.
We knew we needed a location where people already went for access to other resources in our community and in rural communities, that happens to be the local library. People use the library resources like internet, the phone, the computer, library programs and so much more to keep their lives running in communities like Republic and Curlew, WA. It was a no brainer to reach out to the NCW Republic Public Library first to see if they would be on board.
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Not only were they on board, but they welcomed any way they could also help get more food into the hands of the community. We opened our first meal kit gift shop on November 17, 2025. We delivered 27 meal kits on the 17th and by 2 pm that day they were down to 3 left on the shelves. And by December 31, 2025 we had distributed 177 meal kits.
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Our community came out strong to support us on this mission to make sure that our neighbors were going to bed with more full bellies. We couldn't be more grateful to live in a neighbors helping neighbors community. Neither Esther nor I planned on this becoming an official nonprofit. We just wanted to help our community in a time of great need. We quickly realized that we could do so much more with a nonprofit designation.
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Looking to the future, we are planning to expand locations for our meal kit gift shops. We also are looking forward to building stronger partnerships with our community, local organizations, and broadening our support as we connect with grant opportunities. We will continue our work on supporting and collaborating with local food pantries and other food support programs that already exist.
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We are just getting started.
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If we all do a little, together we can do a lot.
Stephanie Connor
Executive Director
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Meet The Team
Stephanie Connor
Executive Director
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Hi, I’m Stephanie Connor. I serve as the Executive Director and am a co-founder of Feeding Ferry County. I do this work because I believe no one in our community should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
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I was born and raised in a small dairy town in Minnesota and grew up in a home marked by poverty, uncertainty, and abuse. Those early experiences shaped who I am and how I move through the world. At fifteen, I made a promise to myself: if I could help even one person have a better life, then my childhood would have meaning. Since moving to Republic, Washington in 2001, I have been privileged to serve far more than just one person during the past 25 years, both personally and professionally.
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I bring a practical, hands-on approach to nonprofit leadership, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, accountability, and local impact. In my role as Executive Director, I oversee strategic planning, program development, community partnerships, and organizational operations. I work closely with our Board of Directors, volunteers, local agencies, and regional partners to ensure Feeding Ferry County provides food assistance that is effective, dignified, and responsive to the real needs of our community.
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Service has always been central to my life. I am someone who sees a need and feels compelled to step forward if I am able. Teaching my children about community service was never a formal lesson—my husband Josh and I simply lived by the belief that if you see something and you have the ability to help, then you do. Feeding Ferry County came into being at a time when I was also learning to prioritize my own health and wellbeing after facing health challenges. I have learned that helping others can be deeply healing, and I continue to work toward balancing service with self-care.
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I am passionate about building sustainable solutions that reflect the unique needs of Ferry County residents. My leadership is grounded in service, transparency, and a belief that strong communities are built when neighbors support one another.
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I am happily married to my husband, Joshua, of 25 years. We have three sons (two daughters-in-law) and two daughters (two sons-in-law). I am a proud Nana to five grandchildren, with another on the way, along with five beloved furry grandpets. At home, you’ll also find me happily tending to my six chickens—I am, unapologetically, a chicken lady.
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I would not have been able to serve others as fully as I have without the unwavering support of my family. They have encouraged me when I was tired, helped when extra hands were needed, and stood beside me during difficult moments. Their belief in me—shown through both words and actions—has made all the difference.
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I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Ferry County through Feeding Ferry County, and I look forward to growing this work alongside the community that makes it possible.
Esther Olsen
Chief Operations Officer
Hi! I’m Esther Olsen, and I am honored to serve as the Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder of Feeding Ferry County, while also fulfilling the role of Treasurer/Secretary.
I bring a strong background in operations and administration, with experience in budgeting, purchasing, recordkeeping, and compliance across nonprofit, local government, and private-sector organizations. At Feeding Ferry County, I focus on building practical systems that turn compassion into action and ensure our programs operate efficiently and with care.
I moved from Southern California to Ferry County in 2014 for what was meant to be a summer job, but life had other plans. During my 11 years here, I met my husband, Nick, and this community quickly became home. Together, we are deeply committed to helping our neighbors and giving back in any way we can.
Stephanie and I met at a Business and Professional Women meeting, where I heard her speak about the looming SNAP crisis and the realities facing our neighbors. I immediately recognized the same gaps she did—especially the long stretches between food pantry days, the barriers created by distance in rural communities, and the lack of choice people experiencing food insecurity often face. Our shared experiences and values made it clear that this work was about more than emergency response; it was about building something thoughtful, creative, and rooted in dignity.
Feeding Ferry County was born from the belief that everyone deserves access to nourishing food and the ability to make choices for themselves. Programs like our Meal Kit Gift Shops reflect that belief—offering not just food, but agency, comfort, and community connection.
Currently, Feeding Ferry County’s operations are housed in our basement, where much of the work happens after hours. I work on this project most evenings after working full time, and for many hours every weekend. I create meal kit recipes based on the food donations we receive, and Nick and I assemble meal kits and snack bags together for distribution through our Gift Shops. It’s truly a family effort, rooted in love for our community.
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I am deeply committed to this community and proud to call Ferry County home. I am excited about where Feeding Ferry County is headed and grateful to be part of an organization that is just getting started.
If we all do a little, together we can do a lot.
Esther Olsen
DISCLAIMER: Feeding Ferry County is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving food access and nutrition security for individuals and families throughout Ferry County. We operate as a nonsectarian, nonpartisan organization and do not affiliate with, endorse, or oppose any religious denomination, political party, or political candidate. All programs and services are provided without religious instruction, political advocacy, or conditions of participation, ensuring equitable and dignified access for all community members.