Who We Are

Executive Director Christy Porter was an award-winning photojournalist before entering the anti-hunger arena. She was born and raised in Kentucky, where her love of green growing things began at an early age. Christy was selected Outstanding Executive Director for San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in 2007, the same year she received the prestigious Minerva Award from California first lady Maria Shriver. In March, 2010 Christy received the Executive Director of the Year award (along with a $25,000 cash stipend for Hidden Harvest) from The Desert Community Foundation.

Christy was recently profiled in People Magazine in the "Heroes Among Us" section.

Assistant Director Sandra Carroll comes to us from the business and personal organization sector. Born in Canada, Sandra became a U.S. citizen in  1980. Sandra is responsible for HH's "Got Citrus" campaign, is HH liason to volunteers and coordinates our produce distribution with over 70 agencies who serve the hungry.

Hidden Harvest’s staff includes Mecca native Francisco Linares, who is our Director of Operations and  Arnulfo Raya Barajas  who drives our delivery trucks, supervises field crews and is so good with a forklift that he can pick up a dime with it.  We also employ scores of field workers to harvest our vegetables and fruits.

Our board members:

Ross Escalette, President  
Stephen Berkley, Vice President
Ronald E. Gother, Secretary
Valerie Gwyn, Recording Secretary

Donald Brown

Robert Chell, PhD.

Brian Harnik

Al Moorhouse

Mark Nickerson

Howard Perley

Gerald Pharris

Sally Simonds

John Volckmann

Joel Smilow, ex officio