Food bank director retiring after 28 years of feeding the hungry
Fred Fisher's son, Jonathan, will take over the helm.
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By TERESA McMINN York Daily Record/Sunday News
With the help of his friends, Fred Fisher over nearly three decades gave more than 60 million pounds of food to needy people.
But it's time, said Fisher, executive director of the York County Food Bank, to lessen his load of responsibilities.
Fisher, a founding father of the food bank, is retiring after 28 years with the organization. His replacement will be his son, Jonathan Fisher, the group's assistant director.
Tonight, on his 73rd birthday, Fred Fisher will be honored for his work and dedication to the organization.
On Tuesday, Fisher -- who has two kids, four grandchildren and seven great-grandkids -- discussed the history and future of the food bank.
"We opened the doors in March of 1982 ... under the umbrella of the Salvation Army," he said, adding that he was a captain with that organization at the time. Fisher is also a preacher and fills in at local churches when they need someone to lead a service.
"I've always accepted the food bank as a ministry unto the lord," he said and added that he's grateful for the community's support, volunteers and staff at the bank. "I have reached the fulfillment of my life."
In its early years, the food bank served 15 member agencies. Today, more than 170 groups, including the Bell Family Shelter, York Rescue Mission and Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, get supplies from them.
The food bank's biggest challenge, especially in today's economy, is to collect enough donations to supply its demand, Fisher said.
"Our donations this year compared to last year are down about $25,000," Fisher said, adding that he hopes more contributions come in before the end of the year.
The organization is more popular than ever, he said. But growth and time also brought complications and technology. Fisher prefers the charitable end of the job, which he plans to work at part-time.
"I'm a dinosaur that's met its time," he said. "Jon (Fisher) came in and put us into the computer world."
Fred Fisher also said his son put new wiring and plumbing in the building.
"I'm very happy about this," he said about being replaced by his son.
For more than 20 years, Jonathan Fisher, 44, has driven trucks, worked in the warehouse, handled accounting and designed computer software for the food bank. "He is as much a part of (it) as I have ever been."
"It's a terrific asset to the community," Jonathan Fisher said, adding that his father's passion to feed the hungry is what grew the food bank.
"Dad will be there to help," Jonathan Fisher said. "We still go to lunch every day together."
