About Us
Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill - both sharing roots with the United Methodist Church as well as being United Way of Central Iowa pattern agencies - traditionally worked in parallel to provide different programs with the similar goal of helping children and families in need.
In July 2023, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work together to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.​
Meet The Team
Suzanne Zutter
Executive Director
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Kelsie Pinegar
Associate Director
Ayanna Oakley
Child Development Center Director
Sergio Hernandez
The Home Connection
Manager
Missy Reams
Volunteer & Community Outreach Director
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Jennifer McCall
New Directions Shelter Program Manager
Melanie Wright
Administrative Assistant
Kiana Hines
Bidwell Pantry Manager
Board Of Directors
Kevin Pothoven, MD, President
Kimberly Bustamante, Vice President
Sara Schuler, Secretary
Gina Graham, Treasurer
Phyllis Tinker, Past President
Nick Roby
Martha Ward
Tyler Archer
Brian Hughes
Scott Paulson
Ernest Phillips
Janell Pittman
Sue Smith
Scott Speirs
Jeff Vaughan
Julia Tentinger
