We’re Back with More Meet the Board Spotlights!
This month we’re catching up with Tara Dolan (She/They), who has now been serving on the Friendly City Food Co-op Board of Directors for a year and three months. Tara has been an asset to our board and her passion for local food, grassroots engagement, and supporting the Shenandoah Valley shines through!
What Has the Board Been Talking About?
- Prepping for Board feedback session(s) on the upcoming Strategic Planning process for Friendly City Food Co-op.
How are You Celebrating the Season?
As a lover of snow, I have been embracing the cozy feeling of drinking a fresh cup of Broad Porch coffee while looking out the window at our little winter wonderland! My family has been keeping the very cold temperatures away by making hearty, warming dishes such as lentil bowls, winter squash ravioli, and peanut curry. There’s nothing quite like watching the snow fall out of the window, wrapped in a blanket with our 70-lb couch-potato Pitbull, Pamela!
Dream Weekend in the Shenandoah Valley?
Sticking to a winter-time, it would be a Saturday morning of stopping at the Co-op for Grab-N-Go hot breakfast sandwiches and something fun from the drink case before heading out to hike/sled/snowshoe in Hillendale Park, George Washington National Forest, or Shenandoah National Park. After recuperating from the morning’s outdoor adventure, spending Saturday night at a performance at the Forbes Center or a show at The Golden Pony. Then on Sunday, grabbing pastries at Magpie before heading to Friendly City Clay & Art Center for a clay workshop or The Antique Warehouse in Verona, VA to hunt for treasures!
What Brought You to First Shopping at the Co-op?
Before my family moved to Harrisonburg for work at JMU in July 2024, we were living in Lewiston, PA, a small town surrounding Bucknell University that is in the heart of a rich agricultural region just like Harrisonburg. While there was no Co-op, there was a very abundant culture of eating and buying local thanks to a terrific Farmers market, as well as home-growing thanks to the climate of the region and nearby Susquehanna River. The market was also an important community gathering place and hub for connection. When touring Harrisonburg, we were so excited to see the Downtown Farmer’s Market Pavilion and Friendly City Food Co-op as a way to continue to engage with the local agriculture and grower community, and put our dollars towards the economy of the Shenandoah Valley. I also spent much of my professional career working in grass-root and community focused organizations which drew me to Co-op’s mission of lifting up Harrisonburg-Rockingham County through economic opportunity, shared resources, and creating a safe space for all residents to access local, fresh food. One of the first steps we took towards embedding ourselves as residents of Harrisonburg was to obtain a membership to the Co-op; I look forward to continuing my support of its success, growth, and reach which is the community’s shared success and opportunity as a Co-op Owner and Board Member.
Favorite Item From the Co-op?
Turkey Pesto w/ Bacon Wrap
Hot English Muffin, Egg, Cheese & Sausage
Salad w/ Grilled Chicken, Berries, and Feta
Aura Bora Lavender Cucumber Sparkling Water
