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From the time that Leona Martens experienced first-hand the burn of hunger during her childhood in Nebraska, fighting to feed those in need became a focal point in her life.
That life-long battle against hunger, like her battle with cancer, ended earlier this week.
Martens — the executive director of the Weld Food Bank in Greeley for 22 years, who once served on the national board of directors for what is now called Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity — died Monday.
She was 66.
“We lost a champion in the battle against hunger,” said Bob O’Connor, who worked with Martens for 14 years at the food bank, and has served as its interim executive director since Martens resigned in January.
He made those comments Tuesday afternoon, working to keep his composure.
Hunger “was something she dealt with herself when she young,” he said. “Her passion was fueled by that. You could tell the fight truly meant something to her.” O’Connor explained that under Martens’ leadership, the Weld Food Bank grew its food distribution from about 40,000 pounds of food annually to about 8 million pounds each year, and went from operating in an 850-square-foot building to doing so in a 35,000-square-foot-warehouse.
On average, the Weld Food Bank now serves more than 10,000 Weld County residents each month, he noted.
“She was just an amazing leader with tremendous vision,” O’Connor said. “And she was just as good of a friend.
“She can’t be replaced. All of us here are devastated.”
Prior to her time as executive director of the Weld Food Bank, Martens served as an executive director for Weld County’s chapter of the American Red Cross.
“Even back then, she was a tireless worker and leader,” said Jeannine Truswell, executive director of the United Way of Weld County, who worked with Martens at the American Red Cross chapter a couple decades ago.
Truswell added that she had great respect for how Martens optimistically fought in her battle with breast cancer, mentioning that she had spoken with Martens in the weeks leading up to her death.
“She said then that as long as she could just work at the food bank and ride her Harley, she’d be happy,” Truswell said. “I feel so privileged to have known someone like her.”
Martens’ family members were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
In December, the community gathered to honor the vision and hard work of Martens, as the Weld Food Bank’s new commercial kitchen was named in her honor, simply named “Leona’s Kitchen.”
O’Conner said under Martens’ direction, the food bank began its fundraising campaign to build the facility on H Street.
Leona’s Kitchen primarily is used to prepare Kids Cafe meals for children who are in need of nutritious food after school, and to provide cooking classes for low-income residents. Martens’ vision for the kitchen also includes a job-training program and increased nutrition education.
“I’m not sure everyone realizes just how blessed we are to have one of the best food banks in the country, which is a result of her hard work and vision,” Truswell said. Martens’ death “is a huge loss to this community.”
That life-long battle against hunger, like her battle with cancer, ended earlier this week.
Martens — the executive director of the Weld Food Bank in Greeley for 22 years, who once served on the national board of directors for what is now called Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity — died Monday.
She was 66.
“We lost a champion in the battle against hunger,” said Bob O’Connor, who worked with Martens for 14 years at the food bank, and has served as its interim executive director since Martens resigned in January.
He made those comments Tuesday afternoon, working to keep his composure.
Hunger “was something she dealt with herself when she young,” he said. “Her passion was fueled by that. You could tell the fight truly meant something to her.” O’Connor explained that under Martens’ leadership, the Weld Food Bank grew its food distribution from about 40,000 pounds of food annually to about 8 million pounds each year, and went from operating in an 850-square-foot building to doing so in a 35,000-square-foot-warehouse.
On average, the Weld Food Bank now serves more than 10,000 Weld County residents each month, he noted.
“She was just an amazing leader with tremendous vision,” O’Connor said. “And she was just as good of a friend.
“She can’t be replaced. All of us here are devastated.”
Prior to her time as executive director of the Weld Food Bank, Martens served as an executive director for Weld County’s chapter of the American Red Cross.
“Even back then, she was a tireless worker and leader,” said Jeannine Truswell, executive director of the United Way of Weld County, who worked with Martens at the American Red Cross chapter a couple decades ago.
Truswell added that she had great respect for how Martens optimistically fought in her battle with breast cancer, mentioning that she had spoken with Martens in the weeks leading up to her death.
“She said then that as long as she could just work at the food bank and ride her Harley, she’d be happy,” Truswell said. “I feel so privileged to have known someone like her.”
Martens’ family members were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
In December, the community gathered to honor the vision and hard work of Martens, as the Weld Food Bank’s new commercial kitchen was named in her honor, simply named “Leona’s Kitchen.”
O’Conner said under Martens’ direction, the food bank began its fundraising campaign to build the facility on H Street.
Leona’s Kitchen primarily is used to prepare Kids Cafe meals for children who are in need of nutritious food after school, and to provide cooking classes for low-income residents. Martens’ vision for the kitchen also includes a job-training program and increased nutrition education.
“I’m not sure everyone realizes just how blessed we are to have one of the best food banks in the country, which is a result of her hard work and vision,” Truswell said. Martens’ death “is a huge loss to this community.”
