(Credit: Pennridge FISH)
Pennridge FISH has announced its new leadership with the election of Lori Rousche Zimmerman as its new board president and the re-hiring of Paige Neuman as full-time Director of Operations and Lauren Bahry as Board VP and events chairperson.
Zimmerman, a FISH board member for 12 years, is a board-certified family physician with 30 plus years of experience in clinical practice and ten years of experience as a hospice and palliative care medical director for Grandview Health. She also temporarily serves with the Illinois Department of Corrections as a team physician and has volunteered with the Volunteer Doctor’s Care Free Clinic in Upper Bucks, said a Pennridge FISH press release.
Neuman, a volunteer with FISH since 2006, holds a non-profit management certificate from La Salle’s Non-Profit Center and has more than 100 hours of trauma training under her belt. She has experience working in the field of mental health and addiction advocacy and quality management and was director for a local women’s safehouse for an anti-human trafficking organization. She was also FISH’s first employee and served as board secretary.
Bahry is long-time FISH volunteer and board officer. She has served many years as Director of Marketing for a large, global financial services company and brings this expertise to the table to assist FISH with its development strategies, said the release.
While known as the primary food pantry in Pennridge, FISH also operates a large clothing outlet that distributes free clothing, books, housewares and more to those in need. The organization also provides emergency financial assistance, including to households considered to be ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed). FISH can also help with security deposits, utility bills during a shut-off notice and connecting to other valuable resources in the county.
With an eye to future growth, FISH, located at 800 West Chestnut Street in Perkasie, was given the opportunity to purchase the adjacent building at 812 West Chestnut Street in December. The new space will house FISH’s Christmas and School Bag programs as well as donor and small community events to raise awareness and nurture community relationships. FISH ultimately hopes that the new space fill gaps in service for its most economically-challenged neighbors, said the release.
Pennridge FISH currently serves about 700 Pennridge resident households with more than 30,000 lbs. of food per month. In 2024, the clothing outlet distributed 2,000 bags of clothing, bedding, housewares and more. The Christmas program supplied gifts to 367 children of parents and grandparents and new school bags and supplies to 197 children.
Individuals interested in supporting FISH are encouraged to keep an eye out for several dine and donate events this year at local restaurants, such as OWOWCOW (Ottsville), The Perk and J.T. Bankers. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Paige Neuman at (215) 257-7616 or email [email protected].
For more information, visit www.pennridgefish.org.
