Laney Crowder serves as the Volunteer Engagement Supervisor at The Heart of Alabama Food Bank, a role she assumed in August 2024. In her position, Crowder plans and leads meaningful volunteer experiences, coordinating individual and group opportunities, managing scheduling and logistics in the warehouse, and supporting volunteers on-site to ensure they feel welcomed, valued, and connected to the mission. She also helps plan special volunteer events, manages donor database tasks, and works to increase engagement and community impact.

Crowder’s proudest career accomplishment is expanding and strengthening the food bank’s volunteer program, making it more welcoming, organized, and impactful. She finds it incredibly rewarding to see volunteers return again and again because they feel connected and appreciated. Being nominated for 40 Under 40 for work she truly loves is also a milestone she values deeply.

Key to Success: Leading with compassion and authenticity. Crowder believes in showing up for people with respect, kindness, and consistency. She focuses on relationships first, stays organized, works hard, remembers why the work matters, asks questions, and never stops learning.

Guilty Pleasure: Reality TV and chocolate, preferably at the same time after a long day.

Childhood Aspirations: As a child, she wanted to be a teacher. She has always loved helping others learn and succeed, and her work with volunteers allows her to teach, encourage, and support people every day.

First Job: Bruster’s Ice Cream at age 15, where she learned patience, customer service, and how to stay positive during busy times.

Best Advice: “Lead with grace. People may forget what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”

Biggest Influence Personally & Professionally: Varina Mead, her first supervisor at the Food Bank, who believed in her before she fully believed in herself. Crowder also credits her family and faith for shaping how she serves and approaches her work.

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