Our Team
Our Board of Directors
Nora Stafford - Chair
John Schrage - Vice Chair
Jacqueline Alvey-Henderson - Treasurer
Alison Dance - Secretary
Amber Johnson
Tomas German-Palacios
Chaz Shelton
Brice Current
Rosalinda Linares-Gray
Kyle VanBrunschot
Dr. Joe Murphy
Annette Borkowski
Our Administrative Team
Marissa Hunt – Co-Executive Director of Finance & Engagement
Marissa Hunt grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended the University of North Texas in Denton, where she earned a degree in Strategic Communications. Over the years, she grew a passion for working in food security and the nonprofit sector through working on small farms in Texas and serving local organizations like The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado and The Good Food Collective. She also built an extensive background in marketing and communications through working with community-focused organizations, offering services with design, social media, communications, and education.
Marissa moved to Durango in 2017 and quickly got involved in the Manna Garden by growing and distributing fresh produce. She joined the Manna team in 2019 as a Programs Services Coordinator and has since served as Resource Center Manager and Deputy Director. She is grateful for her 5+ years with the organization and the wealth of knowledge and experience she has gained. Through years of work as a direct service provider, she has gained in-depth knowledge on housing systems, food security, community needs, and believes in upholding dignity and decreasing stigma in programs that offer assistance. She is proud to have contributed to the organization by helping integrate new participant-centered supportive service programming and launch the Resource Center.
Outside of Manna, Marissa is an artist, musician, and avid outdoors-woman who has her dog, Disco, in tow with her as often as possible. She is grateful to call Southwest Colorado home.
Email: services@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 104
Chris Andrews – Co-Executive Director of Programs & Operations
Chris is deeply committed to community support and empowerment, drawing from his own lived experiences to inspire and uplift others. As a Colorado Peer and Family Specialist and dedicated recovery advocate, he understands the challenges faced by many of Manna's participants. His leadership has been shaped by roles such as Manna’s Program Director and Chapter Lead/Program Coordinator for Young People in Recovery, Durango. Chris is passionate about creating inclusive, recovery-focused environments and developing innovative programs that address the unique needs of the community. When he’s not working, Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and exploring the country on his motorcycle with friends.
Email: programs@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-828-0158
Joseph Kuzma – Development Director
Joseph Kuzma and his wife moved to the Durango area in 2019 and quickly fell in love with the land and community. He immersed himself with the Young Professionals of Durango, joined the board, became the board president from 2022 to 2024, and received the Young Professional of the Year award in 2023. He is involved with several boards/committees in the area including: Steering Committee Member for SW RPD - 2023, Lodgers’ Tax: Arts and Culture Review Board - 2024 and is an active board member of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. He is passionate about youth outreach/ministry and shares his passion for service and collaboration with his friends and community. In his spare time he runs a small videography company - Blue Lily Productions, is an avid gardener, enjoys biking, and spending time with his wife, 4 dogs and 3 cats. He looks forward to spearheading the marketing of Manna’s programs and services as well as working closely with the amazing volunteers that are the foundation of Manna’s continued success.
Email: marketing@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-759-0218
Jamie Matthews, CPA - Accountant
Jamie Matthews moved to Durango from Miami, Florida in 2005. Once here she attended Fort Lewis College, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Accounting, and earning her Certified Public Accountant license in 2017. After working as a non-profit auditor and tax preparer for a local firm, she started her own audit, tax and bookkeeping business. She loves to support the missions of local non-profits through accounting work, but her main passion is food security. For the last 10 years, Jamie has worked to bring calorie equity to our community through the use of gardens. This project has grown from one community garden to a network throughout Durango, providing fresh produce free of charge to any who ask. She is much loved by her 13-year-old daughter and their three weenie dogs.
Email: books@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 106
Debbie Smith - Accounting Assistant
Debbie Smith grew up in Cortez and moved to Durango in 1989 where she attended Fort Lewis College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. After a 32-year career with a local publicly traded company, she shifted gears and began a career in bookkeeping in 2023. She received her certification in November of 2024. She is grateful for the opportunity in her new chapter to serve various local non-profits with a heart for service. She has been married for 31 years and has a 26-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter, and two adorable rescue dogs that fill their "empty nest".
Email: books@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 106
Our Resource Center Team
Danielle McDonald – Resource Center Director
Danielle McDonald grew up in Southern California and made her way to Durango by way of Albuquerque. After working in the court system for over 10 years, she realized that she had an interest in the nonprofit sector and was lucky enough to obtain a position with Manna Soup Kitchen.
Danielle’s professional background includes working for the La Plata County District Attorney’s Office and later at the State of Colorado Probation office. She obtained her BS in Psychology from Capella University in 2022 and is excited to continue Manna’s mission of service and care.
Email: resourcemanager@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 103
Christian Belman – Bilingual Rapid Rehousing Case Manager
Christian was born in Mexico and moved to Durango when he was fifteen years old. He went to Durango High School and Fort Lewis College. For two years he lived in New York City while studying at NYU. His previous jobs before Manna were at San Juan Basin Public Health and Axis Health System, where he worked as a Bilingual Health Promoter and Outreach Specialist. During his free time, Christian likes to read, exercise, and write. Currently he is working on a novel. One of his personal goals is to eventually have a Siberian Husky.
Email: housing@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext 115
Amber DeFrenchi – Housing Stability Case Manager
Amber DeFrenchi has lived in Durango for five years and is a mother of four. She is an active member of the Durango community who enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, and spending time at the dog park. In her spare time, she volunteers at Turtle Lake Refuge and performs with a local circus and at various festivals. She is aspiring to be a massage therapist who aims to help people in healing and general wellness. She is very happy to be working at Manna and serving the community.
Email: amber.defrenchi@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-759-0218
Gillian Kelley – Homelessness Prevention Case Manager
Gillian grew up in Palisade, Colorado. She is currently finishing her degrees in both psychology and sociology and human services at Fort Lewis College. Gillian is passionate about achieving basic needs security in our community and is thrilled to be a part of the Manna team. Outside of work, Gillian enjoys baking, hiking, camping, spending time with her dog, and traveling.
Email: gillian.kelley@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 109
Kasey Perkins – Resource Navigator
Kasey is the Resource Navigator at Manna, specializing in connecting participants with local resources to ensure they receive the support they need. She graduated from Fort Lewis College with a bachelor’s in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. Originally from the Window Rock reservation, Kasey has been living in Durango for eight years.
Outside of work, Kasey enjoys exploring the great outdoors and discovering new hiking trails around the Four Corners area. She has a passion for collectibles, loves attending movies and concerts, and enjoys cooking and baking in her free time.
Email: kasey.perkins@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 113
Lisa Rogers – Bilingual Outreach Navigator
Lisa Rogers was born and raised in Chiapas, Mexico. Lisa moved to the United States in 2014 and has been a resident of Durango, Colorado for 8 years now. She is a single mom looking for new opportunities and a better life. Lisa has experience navigating government assistance programs and utilizing available resources to reach her goals. She earned a GED at the Adult Education Center and completed the law enforcement Academy, gaining work as a security specialist for our 9R school district. She is also a college student studying environmental biology. She loves the outdoors and wants to take care of the environment, so our future generations can enjoy all the wonders of our beautiful planet as well.
Andrew Urenda – Front Desk Lead / MCRP Case Manager
Andrew is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. After struggling with addiction and the criminal justice system for years, he decided to change his path in life. He is a commercial driver, D.J., and has done dozens of other jobs since then. He is in long-term sustained recovery and is working on balancing his scales in life by doing positive things in the community. He is part of Young People in Recovery in Leadership.
Email: andrew.urenda@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-828-0155 ext. 117
Sonnie Douma Aidoo - Front Desk Navigator
Sonnie is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been in Durango for the past 4 years. He recently graduated from Fort Lewis College, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy. He enjoys listening to music and playing the guitar and piano while singing . Sonnie loves the outdoors and uses his free time being out in nature.
Our Culinary & Facilities Team
Shawn Haught – Community Kitchen & Facilities Manager
Originally from Clarkdale, Arizona, Shawn has been living in Durango, CO for 9 years. He enjoys listening to music and going to festivals where he can whip his hair back and forth. You can find him at disc golf courses pretending to be good. He is a lover of Dr. Pepper! He is thankful to be on a team of like-minded individuals and looks forward to helping the community in any way possible.
Email: facilities@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 105
Megan Feuerbacher – Culinary Manager
Megan grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended Texas A&M University where she earned her degree in Nutritional Sciences. She moved to Durango in 2019 to join the Cooking Matters team, where she served two AmeriCorps terms. She joins the Manna Team with expertise in both the nutrition and culinary worlds. Through her commitment to service and community, Southwest Colorado has become a welcomed home for her. In her free time you can find her outdoors foraging for rocks and mushrooms, cooking for her friends, or enjoying her favorite podcasts and movies.
Email: culinary@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 110
Bobbi Cooley – Community Kitchen Supervisor
Bobbi Cooley grew up in Dallas, Texas. She moved to Durango in 2020 and fell in love with the location. After being here about 2 years, she found out about the Manna Culinary Program and immediately sought out more information. Bobbi always had a heart for cooking, so joining the program felt like the right step in her career path and a meaningful opportunity. After graduating from the program, she began working at The Ore House as a prep chef, discovering more of her love for the kitchen. After two years of working there, she had to leave her position due to a fire at the restaurant. She then worked at Rupert's and Primi in Durango, but soon discovered that Manna was seeking a chef. She has been Manna's chef since May 2024 and feels like she's found her dream job. She has enjoyed getting out of her comfort zone, trying new things, and incorporating other people's ideas into the food served.
Email: meals@mannasoupkitchen.com
Aquila Cota - Facilities
Cota is from California. He went to Guthrie Job Corps and earned a Certificate of Carpentry. Cota became unhoused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now living in an apartment again. For a time, he lived at The Purple Cliffs, which was previously Durango’s camp for people experiencing homelessness. While there, he picked up trash off the side of the road, cleaned the port-a-potties, and distributed donations to residents, such as clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, and personal hygiene supplies.
Our Program Teams
Moxie McCandless – Bridge Housing Case Manager
Moxie was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM before spending the next five years living in Seattle, WA. She studied Nutritional Sciences and Honors Liberal Arts at Seattle Pacific University, while a coxswain for the women's collegiate rowing program. In the hours she wasn't studying or rowing, Moxie was in her school's community kitchen, emphasizing the importance of nutrition education for low-income families and people experiencing homelessness. She also frequently volunteered at REST, a human trafficking organization. In addition to completing her Honors thesis on the nutrition inadequacies found in trafficked women, she performed community needs nutrition assessments about the relative resources available to trafficked survivors around the North Seattle area. Now back in the southwest since July 2023, she continues to strive to cultivate compassion, kindness, and genuine meaning in every interaction.
Email: moxie.mccandless@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-764-5678
Keaton Prohaska – WAGEES
Keaton is originally from the Kansas City area and there he inherited a love of dogs, the wilderness, and creative expression. Firsthand, he discovered addiction and the troubles it brings. After sorting many things out and craving a fresh start, he decided the second act of his life would be spent in the mountains. He packed his trusty canine companion, Scooby, into his car with their things and moved to Durango. Keaton holds the belief that to create change you must turn inwards and work your way outwards incrementally. His struggle with addiction and hard work in recovery has translated into a wealth of wisdom he uses to help others. After working on himself he has begun to work for his local community around him and tries to add humanity to a system that lacks it. After he is satisfied with the change fostered in his locality, he hopes to discover a way to spread that positive force even further.
Email: wagees@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 102
Alison Cole – Lived Experience Advisory Board Professional Development Coach
Originally from the mid-west, Alison and her partner relocated to the 4 Corners in 2019, and are still having an adventure. Understanding what drives me, and brings me joy, led me to the helping professions and eventually, in 1988, a master's degree in Counseling. It has been a life-changing honor to provide confidential support to people caught up in very challenging situations, including substance use disorder, mental health issues and dilemmas where a pathway seemed non-existent. In 2002 I earned my Ph.D. in Leadership Development and enjoy helping people to discover, understand and use their leadership strengths to create change and bring out the best in others. I am grateful to people who shared their life experiences with me and for lessons learned from my own mistakes.
Maggie Clune – Street Outreach Coordinator
Maggie Clune was born and raised in Upstate New York and obtained her bachelor's degree in communications and Intercultural Studies in 2019. She made her way to Durango after traveling the west for five years working in and around National Parks. During this time, she met a wide variety of people who were struggling in many different ways. Due to this she gained a passion for connecting with individuals by meeting them where they were and helping them find peace, happiness, and stability. In her free time Maggie loves to be immersed in nature by climbing mountains, skiing, going on backpacking trips, and photographing the beautiful places she experiences to share with others. Maggie is excited to be a part of this team and to help the Durango community in an impactful and meaningful way.
Email: outreach@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-779-8865
Our Garden Team
Brooke Frazer – Garden Manager
Brooke is happiest working with plants, soil, and just being outside. After a three-year hiatus, Brooke has returned to the garden to grow something amazing in the greenhouse and reconnect with the community. Outside of the garden, Brooke is mountain biking, roller skating, camping, hiking peaks, climbing, finding mushrooms, throwing the Frisbee with her dog Foxie, and exploring the San Juan Mountains or the desert. Brooke is excited to meet you all out in the garden!
Email: garden@mannasoupkitchen.com Phone: 970-385-5095 ext. 108
Our AmeriCorps Members
Dream Marion – AmeriCorps Member
Dream is from Virginia, but they have traveled to Durango to support Manna's operations. They really like cats and video games.
Nicholas Williams – AmeriCorps Member
Originally from Augusta GA, Nicholas moved to Durango in August of 2024. As an AmeriCorps, they have agreed to a year of service at Manna-The Durango Soup Kitchen. They are excited to utilize their culinary background to assist the kitchen and market staff and volunteers. When not at work they enjoy music, dance, and are eager to explore all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. They wish to pursue a career in non-profit work once their term with Americorps ends.
Sawda Khanam – AmeriCorps Member
Sawda Khanam (She/Her) is an AmeriCorps service member from Michigan, currently serving at Manna – The Durango Soup Kitchen in Durango, Colorado. With a deep passion for community service, Sawda is dedicated to supporting those in need through her role as Front Desk Program Navigator. She believes in the power of connection and resilience to uplift the community. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the beautiful landscapes of Colorado and connecting with fellow service members.
Transparency in Coverage Information
As the plan sponsor of an employee group health plan, Manna - The Durango Soup Kitchen is required to share information regarding the cost of in-network and out-of-network covered medical services under the Transparency in Coverage Rule. United Healthcare, UMR, and HealthSCOPE Benefits creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Manna - The Durango Soup Kitchen. Those details may be accessed here.