Coboconk & Area Food Bank
Vue3 Website Backed by AWS Lambda
IT Chair
- Rebuilt web presence as modern, maintainable platform for long-term sustainability
- Unified brand and communication across website, social, and print assets
- Improved donor engagement: board observed increased donations post-launch
Overview
This project started the way a lot of good work starts: I showed up to volunteer, and then I noticed a problem I couldn't unsee.
During a company-wide volunteering initiative while I was working remotely, I signed up for a few shifts at the local food bank—packing boxes, loading vehicles, doing whatever needed doing. By the end of those shifts, I'd already told them their existing WordPress web presence just wasn't going to cut it. It didn't reflect the organization well, and it wasn't set up in a way that was easy to maintain.
So I offered to rebuild it into something more modern, easier to work with, and more effective at supporting awareness and donations.
Within a year, I was voted onto the board as the first-ever IT Chair. Since then, I've been responsible for the food bank's web presence and "anything digital," from the website and social media to accounts, email, and general tech support.
My role
I own the project end-to-end:
- Website design and development (front-end and back-end)
- Content structure, messaging, and updates (including AI-assisted drafting for faster iteration)
- Social media management (Facebook + website updates for consistent communication)
- Brand identity and print/digital consistency (logo refresh, layouts, business cards, calendars, etc.)
- IT ops for a volunteer organization: Microsoft 365 accounts, inbox setups, access, and the occasional "can you fix this phone?" moment
- Grants/program applications for discounted software and services (to keep costs down)
The redesign (and why it mattered)
This is the second major redesign since I joined. The first version established trust and proved the site could be maintained. Once the organization saw value and consistency, I was able to push for a complete overhaul: updated visual identity, clearer layouts, improved messaging, and a structure that makes content easier to keep current.
Since launching the new site and tightening up our social presence, the board has noticed a clear uptick in donations—something they've directly attributed to the improved website and more consistent communications.
Technical approach (high level)
Even though this isn't a high-risk commerce site, I still built it like a real production system: stable infrastructure, predictable deployments, and sensible security.
Frontend
- Vue 3 + Vite
- Hosted as static assets on S3, served through CloudFront for performance and reliability
Backend
- Node.js + Express
- Deployed as an AWS Lambda behind API Gateway (lightweight serverless backend for the site's needs)
Data
- DynamoDB (intentionally chosen to keep costs low, since the data requirements are modest)
Infrastructure & Deployment
- Deployment handled through the Serverless Framework
- DNS managed via Route 53
Security & Monitoring
- Basic OWASP-minded precautions in place (sensible defaults, careful input handling, and avoiding unnecessary exposure)
- Light monitoring enabled (enough to catch issues without over-engineering, since the risk profile is low)
The "anything digital" part
Beyond the website, I handle the practical tech realities of a small non-profit:
- Microsoft 365 account setup and maintenance
- Email addresses, inbox configuration, access management
- Applying for nonprofit programs and grants to obtain discounted software/services
- General tech support for volunteers and board members
It's not glamorous work, but it's foundational—and it keeps the organization operating smoothly.