After over seven years of dedicated leadership, The Stop Community Food Centre’s Executive Director Rachel Gray is departing the organization to pursue a new role at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food.

“I’m proud to leave The Stop with such a strong and talented team in place,” says Rachel. “I’ll be watching in admiration as they continue to develop innovative and community-led responses to poverty, social isolation, and food insecurity.”

Among the many accomplishments of her tenure, Rachel spearheaded the acquisition and launch of The Stop’s Wychwood Open Door, supported the expansion of Indigenous-led land work programs, applied a gender-based lens to improve services for women in our spaces, strengthened the organization’s resilience and built a foundation of financial sustainability, and fiercely advocated for the right to food for all Torontonians.

“Rachel has had an incredible impact on this organization,” says Sarah Powell, President of The Stop’s Board of Directors. “We are grateful for the strong foundation and momentum that The Stop’s talented team has established under Rachel‘s leadership.”

Leigh Godbold, The Stop’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, will serve as Executive Director and assume leadership upon Rachel’s departure on March 13.

“The board is thrilled that Leigh Godbold is taking the helm and leading the implementation of our ambitious strategic plan—which builds on our decades of work in the community with our dedicated volunteers and supporters,” says Sarah Powell.

The Stop will be sharing more news on this transition in the coming weeks.