Talawanda Oxford food pantry names new director

Leadership of a food pantry in Oxford is changing, with a new executive director to lead its return to in-person shopping.

Ann Fuehrer has served as executive director of Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services since July of 2019 and recently stepped down.

Fuehrer started as a volunteer at the pantry, then known as Oxford Community Choice Pantry, in 2014. She joined the board of directors in 2017 until being hired as executive director.

The board has hired Sherry Martin as her successor. Martin has been a volunteer shopping assistant since 2017 and joined the board of directors in 2019. She has been serving as board secretary.

Martin leaves a position in the office of the Dean of Students at Miami University, where she had been employed for 18 years.

“I had a sense it was time for someone with a new set of skills to take over, someone with more supervisor skills than I had, Fuehrer said.

“Sherry is a generation and a half younger than me and more comfortable with technology. It’s really time,” she said.

Fuehrer referred to a book about creating new settings, and sees the transition as a part of that. “The skill sets need a different level of development. I pivoted to keeping people safe (in the pandemic). I feel good, but it is time to really systemize things with targeted philanthropy. It’s time to make use of the facilities we have here,” she said.

She said Martin is more tech savvy and can use that to further the goals of TOPSS.

Martin said her familiarity with the pantry operation will help, but she will work with Fuehrer to get better acquainted with the full operation.

“I plan to try some new software as soon as I learn the ropes. I’m excited to serve. I hope to