FOOD BANK UPDATE HAFB Hires New Director; Former Director Appears In Court
Reported by: Darrah Wilcox
Web Producer: Darrah Wilcox
Reported: Mar. 1, 2013 5:38 PM EST
Updated: Mar. 1, 2013 8:33 PM EST
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Huntington
, Cabell County
, West Virginia
A former Huntington Area Food Bank executive director charged with 17 counts that include embezzlement and forgery appeared in Cabell County court Friday.
Leigh Anne Zappin resigned from the HAFB about five months ago, and was arrested in January after being indicted on those charges.
Zappin appeared in front of Judge Alfred Ferguson for a pre-trial hearing Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the HAFB named interim executive director Tiffany Tatum as its new executive director this week.
"The food bank serves a cornerstone service for the community," Tatum said. "We provide fundamental resources to those who need it, and to know that I've been asked to help them move forward in reaching that goal is humbling, and I'm going to do my best to make us a success."
Tatum has been with the food bank since October, and is glad to have a permanent position.
"Now that I'm here permanently, I can start building strategic goals of the organization, and that will allow us to bring stability back to the food bank which I think is necessary for us to continue serving the community," Tatum said.
She's been helping the board and employees come up with a comprehensive plan for the future of the food bank.
"The staff here knows that we're working on accountability and transparency, but also trying to instill a culture of empowerment," Tatum said."Everyone here has a say on the programs we have moving forward."
The agency serves nearly 100,000 clients in 17 counties in the Tri-State each month.
Zappin is scheduled for another hearing for next month.
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