ATH Yambassadors volunteer group approaches harvest season with fresh new leadership

Ellen Merrill is the new volunteer coordinator for After the Harvest’s volunteer-led Yambassador program. Ellen was introduced to After the Harvest through her late husband, Jim Merrill, and has been involved in various volunteer capacities in the past.

Ellen’s professional career includes over 35 years at an art educator, retiring from full-time teaching in the Olathe School District in 2013. She worked post-retirement at the Kansas City Art Institute in an art teacher certification program.

She is a Visitor Service Assistant at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, and also shares her time at California Trail Middle School, Temple Beth Torah, and the Arts Council of Johnson County.

With input from Steve and Lori Mitts, she crafted the mission statement for the Yambassadors: “The Yambassadors support ATH in their mission of improving nutrition, fighting food insecurity, and reducing food waste through education and outreach to the community and the organization’s volunteers.”

Ellen is looking forward to promoting After the Harvest, and will be manning a table at the Eat Local and Organic Expo at Johnson County Community College on Saturday April 9 from 8am to 3pm.

For more information about the ATH Yambassadors, contact jane@ath19.bluesym6.work or 816.921.1903 ext 104.