Hello! My name is Logan West, and I am the Nutrition and Health Programs Manager here at South Michigan Food Bank. I’m from Kalamazoo and have lived in Michigan my whole life. After attending Western Michigan University, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, and also became a Certified Health Education Specialist. I’ve always been a strong advocate for addressing health at the population level; I have a particular interest in community health and increasing access to good nutrition. My greatest passion is child nutrition, due to my experience developing educational content for clients utilizing the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), researching parenting practices as they relate to child eating patterns and health outcomes, and working with children in the behavioral health field.
I came to SMFB in October of 2023, looking for a job in the public health area. Previously, I worked in nutrition education and prevention-based health programs, and I wanted to work in a similar area in a new and exciting way. I found the posting for this role on a job website, and after reading the description of the duties and responsibilities, I knew it was the perfect fit. I wanted to utilize my knowledge and previous experience to work in a different type of role, so I applied. I was excited about the prospect of working in this role, as it had opportunities to enhance and expand current nutrition initiatives, work with local healthcare partners, and integrate nutrition education and awareness into different aspects of the food bank’s work.
Here at SMFB, I’m responsible for all our nutrition and health initiatives. One of the projects I manage is the Fresh Food Pharmacy Program that South Michigan Food Bank operates in partnership with Grace Health, located in Battle Creek. I also support the other partnerships that the food bank maintains with healthcare partners and continue to seek opportunities to partner with organizations to support our communities. In addition, I develop nutrition education material for our senior neighbors that utilize the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), as well as other agencies and partners that SMFB supports.
I hope to continue prioritizing and emphasizing the role nutrition plays in healthy communities and to demonstrate these values through my work here at South Michigan Food Bank.
Feel free to connect with me! I look forward to meeting our supporters and I thank you for joining our shared mission.
