Melinda Wade Engelbrektsson, Co-Founder
Development and Logistics Coordinator
Corporate Business Partners Liaison
Food For The Poor Liaison
Special Group Project Coordinator
Melinda is responsible for corporate donations (storage space at CubeSmart; material support (trailer space and boxes from Interstate Van Lines); and simulation lab space/medical personnel (INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital) to implement our project objectives.Melinda meets with FFP to determine needs in Haiti for the medical staff, midwives and new mothers (training subjects and pack n plays, to name a few). She also coordinates and serves as advisor to those young people doing a Girl Scout or Eagle Scout project.
To talk about how you can help Stella Marina by making kits, a donation, or volunteering, you can reach her at melinda@stellamarina.org.
Meg Hanrahan, Co-Founder
Birthing Kit Coordinator
College and Community Liaison
Meg is responsible for organizing our birthing kit builds. She works with colleges, youth ministries, marriage groups, and any other group interested in raising funds and making clean delivery birthing kits.
Meg can be reached at meg@stellamarina.org.
Susan Welch-Paris
Pack ‘N Play Coordinator
Susan Welch-Paris is in charge of Pack ‘N Plays. She coordinates pick-up from those who are donating, as well as from in the narthex of Nativity Catholic Church. Susan checks to be sure all Pack ‘N Plays are clean and in working order before we ready them to send in our next container to Haiti.
Susan can be reached at swelchparis@stellamarina.org.
Tara Shimp
Volunteer Coordinator
Event Assistant
Tara has been volunteering with Stella Marina for about two years and helps with the Birthing and Newborn Kit Builds by coordinating the volunteers through an on-line signup portal. Tara manages our newborn kits including our annual drive, which is typically held in the summer and our fall newborn kit build. Tara also assists at tabling events at Nativity.
Tara can be reached at tara@stellamarina.org.
Theresa Danner
Letter and News Article Writer
Diaper Company Liaison
Theresa reaches out to cloth diaper companies to secure them for the newborn kits, and procures other items. She also writes letters and newspaper articles to advertise what we do.
Theresa can be reached at theresa@stellamarina.org.
Sandy Horner
Stella Marina Newsletter Creator
Sandy has been creating the Stella Marina newsletter, The Sea Star, for the past couple of years, including writing articles and assembling the contents. She also coordinates the decoration of onesies with little starfish for our Newborn Kits.
Sandy can be reached at newsletter@stellamarina.org.