Jaime Flanders
Executive Director
Originally from a small town in California, I moved to the Appalachian region and made it my home in 1998 after travelling extensively throughout the United States. During my travels, I became passionate about serving vulnerable populations while developing and operating a grassroots mobile food kitchen project. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 2017 and served the community through working as a Shelter Associate and Service Coordinator at the Hospitality House of Boone. I have held the position as Program Coordinator of Blackburn Community Outreach and accepted the position of Executive Director in July 2020. I look forward to continuing to serve the local community in Todd and address issues related to food insecurity in rural North Carolina. I also enjoy spending time with my three children, attending local events and am a certified Feng Shui Practitioner.
Demir Turan
Garden Coordinator
I grew up in the Queen City, Charlotte, NC. From a young age, I spent my summers at a camp in Burnsville in the Celo community. It was Camp Celo that fostered my admiration for the natural world and interest in growing my own food. In 2014, I moved to Boone and began my studies at ASU. I obtained my degree in Sustainable Development with a concentration in Agro-Ecology. Not only do I have a passion for growing food, but cooking as well. For the last 6 years I’ve worked in a handful of restaurant kitchens around the high country. Through my studies and experiences, nothing has been more rewarding than the tangible results that gardening provides. There is much to be learned from nature, and the garden is where I find peace in this crazy world. I am beyond grateful to have this opportunity to be a part of building a healthy and inclusive community in which all have access to fresh food regardless of means. If you catch me out there, come say hello, I’m looking forward to hearing all of your stories.
Caitlin Stanton-Rich
Todd’s Table Coordinator
I grew up in Fairview, just outside Asheville, across from a little walk up farm stand and my after school art teachers house. The experiences I had at their home remind me so much of Todd and certainly made it easy to get settled and comfortable here. After graduating from Appalachian State University in Recreation Management I moved to Todd to live in the Blackburn House for 2 years, so I am no stranger to Blackburn Community Outreach. I so enjoy connecting the community with local food and getting to know more and more of the area from sitting in the shade and visiting with whomever stops by every Saturday! My husband, Jeremiah, and I met at the Blackburn House and are so blessed to be able to begin building our lives here in Todd.
