Darcy Buendia

Co-Executive Director of Programs

Darcy (she/her) served as HIP’s first AmeriCorps member in 2012 and just… never left. She is motivated by the passion and compassion of her fellow HIPsters as well as the occasional (very occasional) taste test in the kitchen. Outside of work, Darcy is an avid vacationer, karaoke lover, and someone who lives for the summer. While she was born & raised in Florida, her deepest roots are in Lake City. 

Srijan Chakraborty

Co-Executive Director of Operations

Srijan (he/him) holds a masters degree in Social Work. Before joining HIP, he was the Development & Communications Manager at The Sophia Way, an agency serving women experiencing homelessness. He also has a masters degree in Computer Science and worked as a software engineer at Microsoft for nine years before deciding to switch completely to the social service sector. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his children, hiking in the mountains, listening to music, or reading a good book.

Emebet Mamo

East African Meal Program Coordinator

Emebet (she/her) grew up in Ethiopia until the age of 14. She then immigrated to the USA and went to high school in D.C. When she was 20 she moved to Seattle and went to accounting school for two years. She began a small business in Lake City for about 10 years before getting into home care. She has two children and in her spare time, she volunteers at HopeLink and other programs in her community.

Rachel Mina

Shelter Meals Program Manager

Rachel (she/her) was born in the Philippines, immigrated to the Pacific Northwest at the age of 5, and grew up in the White Center area. After spending a decade working in healthcare admin, Rachel found her love for food justice through volunteer work. She has since worked at FareStart’s School Meals & Shelter Meals program in Seattle and helped open Librairie Gourmande, a culinary event/training space, in Grays Harbor. Her interests include both playing and watching basketball, visiting museums in small towns, and taking the ferry on a nice day. 

Alyssa Desanti

Shelter Meals Coordinator

Alyssa (she/her) is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where she received an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Food Studies. She comes to HIP all the way from Pittsburgh, PA to work on Shelter Meals. When she’s not working, she likes to crochet, collect houseplants, and hang out with her dog, Mel.

David Salerno

Senior Meals Program Manager

Originally from the Northeast, David (he/him) has been in Seattle since 2016. He studied classic culinary arts at the French Culinary Institute in NYC and most recently worked as a culinary instructor and resident chef at Sur La Table. He can completely nerd out over culinary anthropology and can talk about food and food science for hours with anyone who is willing to listen. When not in the kitchen, you can find him playing hockey or running in different neighborhoods of Seattle.

Jacob Griffith

Senior Meals Program Coordinator

Jacob (he/him) was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and studied Logistics and Nonprofit Management at The Ohio State University. Before joining HIP he worked as a planetarium presenter for a portable, inflatable dome brought to schools, libraries, and community organizations. In his free time, Jacob enjoys collecting and trying hot sauces and watching reality tv shows such as Survivor and The Traitors.

Jennifer Ricaldi

Nutrition Education Coordinator

Amy Spanne

Bookkeeper

Amy (she/her) grew up in the east San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Business degree from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Applied Economics from UC Santa Cruz. After several years in Corporate Treasury with Bank of America she became a full-time mom and volunteer. As her two sons grew, she obtained a certificate in Financial Planning and occasionally teaches finance around freelance work as an accountant and financial planner. Her other hobbies include quilting, and studying history and genealogy.

Daniel Koobatian

Development and Communications Coordinator

Born and raised in Southbury, Connecticut, Dan (He/Him) is passionate about sharing good food and building community. After receiving his BA in Government and Mathematics from Hamilton College, his career path landed him in classrooms and newsrooms alike, cementing the importance of local impact. Now a full-time MPA student as well, he spends his scant free time exploring the vast wonders of the PNW, testing Armenian recipes from his childhood, and playing board games and RPGs with friends.

Graycen Mahon

Afterschool Meals lead, AmeriCorps WSC

Born and raised in Northern California, Graycen (she/her) attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, receiving degrees in Environmental Science and Sociology. She is an advocate for food and social justice, and environmental conservation. Graycen loves to spend time knitting outdoors. At home, she can be found in the kitchen testing out new plant-based recipes for her friends and roommates. Graycen is excited to join the HIP team and connect with members of her community.

Sydney Crowe

Healthy HIP Packs lead, WSC AmeriCorps Member 

Sydney (she/her) is a graduate of Whitman College with a degree in politics and Hispanic studies. Originally a Summer Meals associate, she is excited to return and continue giving back to her community with HIP. In her free time, she likes to read, craft, travel, and spend time in nature.

Hannah Hong Frelot

Dishwasher & Facilities Assistant

Hannah (she/her) is a lifelong lover of food and worker for justice. She is also an amateur herbalist, artist and mommy to two unbelievably awesome children and many lovely plants. She hails from Normandy Park, WA, and was born to Taiwanese immigrant parents. She went to four PNW colleges, and received a BA in art history with a focus in post-colonial and post-structural studies. When not at HIP, Hannah is cooking and sharing dishes with friends, creating items for her online shop, and dreaming of healthy and just futures for all with The Equity Consortium.