In May 2009, Edith Murnane (left) and Loni Zeflon joined Community Servings' staff as our Social Enterprise Manager and Community Nutritionist, respectively.

Edith, a self-described "food advocate," will oversee and expand Community Servings' sold meals and sustainable agriculture programs. She will seek out new customers -- other non-profit organizations such as charter schools -- to buy our meals for the populations that they serve. We will then use the revenue raised to provide free meals to our critically ill clients. Edith is also excited to coordinate Community Servings' Farmer's Market, which will begin on Sunday, July 12, 2009.  Along with the products sold by farmers and local food vendors, customers will also be able to buy herbs grown in our own on-site herb garden. In addition, Edith will oversee our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative with Heaven's Harvest Farm. Starting in late June, about 80 local residents will pick up weekly parcels of organic produce at Community Servings. We'll receive 10 percent of the proceeds as well as the farm's excess produce for our clients' meals.

Before joining Community Servings, Edith worked with corporate clients at Boston caterer Milk Street Cafe, a Pie in the Sky contributor, owned The Cantata, a cafe in Jamaica Plain, and Edith's Edibles, a tart-making business. A native of New York, Edith spent much of her youth on an apple orchard. She's lived in France, cooking in a local bistro in a town outside of Bordeaux, and today makes her home in Jamaica Plain.  Edith is excited to be at Community Servings because "I've spent my career teaching people to engage with food in a joyous way. It's a really nice feeling to be part of an organization where everyone knows and buys into the mission. I look forward to using my skills and experience to help achieve our mission."

Loni is a 2009 graduate of Boston University, where she majored in nutritional sciences.  She took the "scientific route" to food because she loved to cook but her parents dissuaded her from being a chef.

As our part-time community nutritionist, Loni will provide clients with a nutrition screening to determine which of our 25 special diets best meets their needs and evaluate any risk factors for malnutrition. She will also work with our Registered Dietitian on menu development, our monthly client nutrition newsletter, and the nutrition section of our website.

Before joining our staff, Loni was a Community Servings' meal delivery volunteer at Boston University. She is excited to be a staff member because she believes in both the scientific and psychosocial aspects of food and loves how Community Servings combines the two. "I appreciate how this organization creates a sense of community around food, which is something I enjoy doing for my friends." In addition to her work here, Loni volunteers at the Greater Boston Food Bank's Kids Cafe, teaching classes about cooking and nutrition. A Brighton resident, Loni looks forward to moving to Jamaica Plain in the fall.