Our Mission
Springfield Family Center is a community-based charitable food organization dedicated to providing resources to our food insecure neighbors in the communities of the greater Springfield area.
Meet Our Team
Trisha Paradis, Executive Director
Trisha Paradis, Executive Director
Trisha Paradis, Executive Director
Trisha Paradis is a native of southern Vermont and a graduate of Castleton University, where she studied psychology and education. With 18 years of experience in both the medical and human services fields, Trisha has built a diverse career dedicated to helping others. She began her professional journey in clinical research, where she supported individuals facing cognitive impairments. During this time, Trisha held various roles, including business management and clinical research coordination, and it was here that she discovered her passion for working with people.
Trisha later expanded her impact at a non-profit organization focused on providing care for individuals with intellectual disabilities. In this role, she took on multiple responsibilities, offering clinical direction, supervision, and quality assurance. Most recently, she served as the executive director of a small non-profit social services organization, where she worked closely with community partners, developed programming, and secured funding opportunities.
Trisha is excited to continue her mission of helping others as a member of the team at the Springfield Family Center
James Harris, Office Assistant
Trisha Paradis, Executive Director
Trisha Paradis, Executive Director
James Harris, a Military Veteran, brings a wealth of experience in cooking for community meal programs to the Springfield Family Center. With several years of non-profit experience, James has dedicated much of his career to serving others. He spent six years managing the community kitchen at St. Vincent de Paul in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and later worked in advocacy in Brattleboro, Vermont, before relocating to Springfield. James is a proud member of the VFW and previously served on the Springfield Family Center Board for a year before joining the staff.
A world traveler, James infuses his creative passions into his work, bringing a unique perspective and dedication to his role at the Springfield Family Center.
Steffanie Baker, Operations/Kitchen Manager
Steffanie Baker, Operations/Kitchen Manager
Steffanie Baker, Operations/Kitchen Manager
Steffanie Baker grew up in a military family, moving frequently across the country, before settling in Southern Vermont 14 years ago, where she quickly embraced all that the state has to offer. While her career has spanned various fields, over the past decade, Steffanie has operated her own business, incorporating in-home care for local residents. Through these connections, her passion for helping others became a central focus of her life.
Steffanie's journey in community service began with a local snowmobile group, where she spent nine years and discovered the rewarding world of volunteerism. In 2020, she began volunteering with a local hunger relief organization, later joining their Board of Directors. This experience deepened her commitment to supporting community-oriented initiatives and led her to a fulfilling career in service.
In her free time, Steffanie enjoys gardening, cooking, preserving and canning food, and crafting. She is passionate about finding creative ways to connect services with community members facing challenges. Steffanie is excited to bring her talents and enthusiasm to her new role as Program Director at the Springfield Family Center.
Keegan Mack-Chase, Food Shelf Coordinator
Steffanie Baker, Operations/Kitchen Manager
Steffanie Baker, Operations/Kitchen Manager
Springfield Family Center welcomes Food Shelf Coordinator, Keegan. We are thrilled to have her on as part of the team and look forward to celebrating all she brings to this role. Before working at the Springfield Family Center, Keegan regularly volunteered and helped with food drives and maintaining the food shelf. She also started a hygiene resources program that added a great extra service for our community members. Outside of work, Keegan loves reading and traveling. We are excited to have Keegan as a part of the Springfield Family Center team as we work together to offer support to community members facing adversity.
Support Our Cause
Prices of groceries are rising. Your Donations make all the difference in our ability to feed community members in the Springfield area facing hunger. You can make a monetary donation through our PayPal link online.
Springfield Family Center Board Member Highlight: Lindsy Mack
I have been working in Springfield for the last 8 years. During that time I have been a case manager, a community health worker and now am a behavioral health and substance use care coordinator. I joined the Springfield Family Center (SFC) board in 2015. My partner and I purchased a home here in Springfield and have been residents since 2019. I felt it was important to live in the community I spend so much time to support.
When I first joined the SFC board, I learned through research that 1 in every 3 Springfielders live at or below the poverty line. This altered my perception of the community as I began viewing the lines at the grocery store cash register differently. I always knew there were people who utilized public assistance to afford food, but, I was recognizing for the first time that if I wasn’t living at or below the poverty line it was very likely that the person in front of me or the person behind me likely was. I started doing the math every time I was at Shaws in Springfield and I began to really see how prevalent and pervasive food insecurity is. It is difficult to reason why in one of the richest first world nations on planet earth food insecurity exists in our country. There are many, many factors that contribute to this. I know there is no one answer that will solve this dilemma. I’m proud to be part of an organization that is leading the way toward reducing the impact of food insecurity in Springfield (and beyond) as we have all been faced with novel challenges throughout this last year.
Unfortunately many people who receive a 3Square (food stamp) benefit experience feelings of shame due to the stigma and judgements placed on them by others. I encourage every Springfielder who is curious to learn what its like to live on 3Squares or “food stamps” to take the 3SquaresVT Challenge. https://www.vtfoodbank.org/2013/11/3squaresvt-challenge.html The Average 3SquaresVT benefit is $30 per week or 1.72 per meal for a single person. This makes it difficult for many to purchase nutritious food on a consistent basis. As we know humans can live without many things, but, food is not one of them. I think of the survival rues I learned as a young person. In general humans can live 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.
I am insatiably curious and I hope to continually grow my awareness and hopefully to impact the Springfield community in a way that reduces the implicit and explicit biases that many of us carry in regard to individuals living at or below the poverty line. I would also like to live in a community that values and empathizes with all of its citizens regardless of socio-economic status. I’m excited and I’m proud to live, work and play in Springfield.
Volunteer Spotlight
We would like to shine the light on M&T Bank and their dedication to helping the community in meaningful ways. M&T Banks recognizes the value of time as a gift and supports their employees to donate 40 hours of their time to the organizations that speak to them.
This month's volunteer spotlight focuses on our volunteer, Mariah, who has been assisting in whatever capacity has been needed since our move into our Springfield Plaza location. Her time in our establishment has been in conjunction with our partnership with M&T Bank.
When asked, Mariah shared her thoughts on volunteer work and how she got started, "I got started in April 0f 2024. When volunteering, I feel that get to be a part of a great community helping people in need. It makes me feel as if what I'm doing is important and that I'm making a positive impact in my community."
For her, the most important part of giving back to the community and others is "Being there for someone during tough times. You never know what someone is going through or what their situation is."
Her advice for others on how to get into community service, "Do i! Nothing feels better than helping the community. It makes you fee like you have a greater purpose, because doing something so small can make such a big impact on someone else's life."
Thank you for all that you do to help others, Mariah!
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers are the lifeblood of most non-profit organizations. Without them, reaching and making connections with those in our community would be more much more difficult. SFC has proudly hosted a number of volunteers over the years, with many seeing the evolution of our organization from the grassroots level.
We would like to focus on one of our dedicated volunteers: Angel.
Angel has been involved with volunteer work for over 20 years, lending her hand to numerous organizations – whether it be for her church, at her children's schools, the warming shelter, or now here at SFC.
“It’s very gratifying work, knowing that you’re helping others. Plus, working with other volunteers is a fun way to meet people and make new friends.” When asked what she feels is the most important part of giving back to the community and what advice she has for others considering volunteer work, Angel says, “Helping those in need, giving back and paying it forward are the most important things. Don’t be afraid to inquire and jump in to help – you won’t regret it! If you don’t know where or how to start your volunteer work, ask your friends or community organizations where there may be a need that you can help fill.”
Thank you so much for all that you do, Angel!
Volunteer Spotlight
A labor of love! The Springfield Family Center works hard to combat food insecurity in our community! We could not carry out this important mission without the help of our amazing volunteers!
We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on our wonderful and dedicated volunteer, Cin Smart !
Cin is our right-hand woman in the kitchen; working tirelessly to help make meals for our community!
Helping others is a lifelong passion for Cin who has been volunteering for non-profit organizations for as long as she can remember. Cin came to the Springfield Family Center looking for volunteer work to give back to her community, upon arrival she knew it was a perfect fit! Two years later, Cin states that she “enjoys being a part of such a passionate and dedicated group of people” and that she “loves the feeling of helping others to make their lives just a little easier.”
Cin’s passion of helping others carries over to furry friends. Cin ran a small animal rescue for many years to include rescuing and rehoming guinea pigs, pet mice and rats, hamsters and the like! She truly has a heart of gold!
Cin, thank you so much for all your hard work going above and beyond in helping our community members who are facing adversity. We are beyond thrilled to have you as a part of our team here the Springfield Family Center.
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