Cynthia B. Knox, Esq., is the CEO of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP). CHHOP works to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Peekskill, New York, and its surrounding areas. As CHHOP’s leader, Knox successfully increased the organization’s revenue by over 225% percent, increased private revenue by over 17% and program staffing by 280 percent within five years. She has also developed additional programs in response to community needs, including a collaborative RISE Program for domestic violence survivors. She has transformed CHHOP’s food pantry into a “farm to pantry” model with a rigorous focus on health equity.

In 2024,  The Loft recognized Knox as an LGBTQ+ Trailblazer and the City of Peekskill named her as a Peekskill LGBTQ+ leader.  Under Knox’s leadership, CHHOP has received recognition for its dedication to helping those in need, including the 914 Inc. Women in Business Leaders in 2023, Crain’s 2023 New York Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders, the 2022 New York State Empire Award, the 2022 Peekskill NAACP Distinguished Service Award, and the 2022 Feeding Westchester Neighbor Service Award.

Knox's social justice work spans more than three decades, with 20-plus years of nonprofit executive experience working on behalf of low-income individuals. She has developed programs and funding for specialized populations, advanced strategic partnerships, and led performance management processes in her leadership roles.

Knox has served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions. Currently, Knox serves on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce and the Westchester County Community Development Advisory Group; is a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for "Welcome Home Westchester!" and is on the New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital Community Advisory Board.

Knox holds a JD from CUNY Law School and a BA in Philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College.

Pastor Valerie Paul-Greenaway joined the United Methodist Church of Peekskill in 2022, offering a unique combination of team building, education, research, community health promotion, the arts, public health, faith-based, pastoral care, case management, caregiver, leadership and human services experience.

As a board member for CHHOP, her desire is to leverage vast experience in human services, education, advocacy and mental health awareness in support of client care and community outreach. She is in the process of completing her Masters of Divinity from Drew University. A graduate of Leadership Orange (2014), Pastor Valerie is a certified Anger Management facilitator and a Mental Health First Aid for Youth trainer. She holds a Bachelors of Art in Behavioral Science and has completed her pre-law from Marist College.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ruth Wells and her husband, Jim Knight, have been Peekskill homeowners since 1988. They have put down deep roots in their adopted hometown. Wells, who holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MFA from Temple University, first became involved in Peekskill civic life in 1999 when she volunteered for a local election campaign. She volunteered on the Middle School Bond Campaign and on the PSCD Strategic Plan Evaluation Committee. In 2008, Wells began serving on Peekskill’s Planning Commission. Wells has served on the CHHOP board since 2005, first as secretary, then chair and vice chair. She is a founder of Fred’s Pantry. During her 10 years with Fred's, she coordinated  distribution of 14,000 meals annually.

Born in the Bronx, Liana Knudsen’s family moved to the Peekskill area when she was 8-years old. Knudsen is the owner of Auntie Liana’s Baked with Love, a home-based baking business.

She also has a career as a senior print production manager. In her spare time, Knudsen enjoys dancing and performing. She joined the CHHOP board in 2016 as a way to become more active in the community.

Knudsen believes that the best way for her to spend her time and resources is to ensure that the needs of hungry and homeless individuals, especially veterans, are met. She is excited to be working with the CHHOP board and its CEO to move the organization to the next level of its development.

Amy Perlow is a Peekskill-based consultant who works with non-profit organizations to prepare students for success in college, career, and community. She currently develops tools and systems across a large network of NYC public high schools and coaches a portfolio of schools to ensure students graduate with a clearly articulated plan for continued education, training, or employment. In prior roles, she directed partnership programs between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) - the two largest education systems of their kind in the country. Perlow holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from SUNY Binghamton, and a Master’s degree in Social Policy from SUNY Empire State College. She also serves as board chair for the Black Diamonds Academic Success program, and as education committee chair for the Peekskill NAACP.

Sara Weaver joined CHHOP's board of directors in 2021 to become more connected with the Peekskill community that she and her family adopted five years ago.

Sara has spent years working in the consumer product goods industry, in both a marketing and sales capacity. She spent 13 years at Danone and recently left that position to pursue her passion with a smaller company, Belgian Boys. At this new company she leads the marketing and sales strategy.

It is her combined passion for food, communication strategy and serving others that Sara has found her niche on the CHHOP board.

Kym McNair is the director of social transformation at My Sisters’ Place (MSP), a domestic violence agency in Westchester County. In her role, she develops and facilitates trainings grounded in MSP’s guiding principles for health care professionals, law enforcement, college students, religious communities and non-profit organizations to help them recognize and respond to domestic/Intimate partner violence in their professional and personal lives. She is also an anti-racist trainer and organizer with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a multigenerational, multiethnic collective, based in New Orleans.

She’s a member of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee (IDEAC) for the Town of Bedford and is a member of the town’s Police and Community Working Group, which is a follow-up from the statewide Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative work mandated by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Kym was ordained by the Central Hudson Baptist Association in 2014 and received recognition from the American Baptist Churches of New York State in 2021.

Michael Golio was born and raised in Bronx and lived there for 26 years before moving up to Westchester County with his family.  He graduated from Iona University in 1989 with a BA in psychology and minor in business administration.

Michael began his career in finance in 1985 and has held various relationship management positions with The Bank of New York, Chase Bank, Hudson Valley Bank and, presently, Orange Bank & Trust.  Working in and around the Peekskill area since 1997,  Michael has formed and number of relationships.  He is also a current member of both The Peekskill Rotary and Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber.

Michael believes a strong sense of helping in the community along with partnerships, mentorships and relationships always provide the strongest wind for our sails.

Creative director, filmmaker, photographer and author are all appropriate titles for Content Machine founder Darryl Estrine.

Darryl began his career in Los Angeles photographing the famous faces of Hollywood, professional sports, and business for magazines including: Motorola, Microsoft, Esquire, Forbes, Vanity Fair, and ESPN. 

Darryl knew he wanted to help others, and after a short conversation with Cynthia Knox at a photoshoot he knew CHHOP was the place to put his effort. His 40 years experience in media and marketing is being put to good use by CHHOP in the development and implementation of a revised communications and social media plan. 

Darryl has decided to further his desire to help others by going to graduate school in the fall of 2024 to begin his studies for a masters degree in mental health counseling.

The Client Care Workers at CHHOP are an integral part of keeping our operations running smoothly.  Client Care Workers are the ones who make sure that our clients have what they need for a successful stay at Jan Peek House as they rebuild their lives. Creating a warm and welcoming environment and a positive atmosphere are just two of the important contributions of our Client Care Workers, each of whom brings their own unique skills and talents to their job. The Client Care Workers provide direct care, guidance and supervision to residents of the program as well as assist in the oversight of daily routines of living at the shelter. They also foster positive socialization and interaction among residents.