LEADERSHIP

FOUNDER

Jenny Waltman

Jenny began a friendship with Jesus when she was five years old and she has been on the ride of a lifetime. If only she had known what she was saying “yes” to when she started praying about providing food support to Birmingham families.

A graduate of Samford University, insurance adjuster for six years, a bookkeeper, an entrepreneur, with her husband Jason, through Grace Klein Construction, Inc., a mama to two biological children and many others, a writer and avid reader, and a servant leader of Grace Klein Community as Director of the Board, her journey is beautifully amazing, stretching and fulfilling.

She serves behind the scenes, in a daily capacity, with Grace Klein Community to propel vision, develop structures, oversee record keeping and non-profit compliance, and assist in community support advocacy, volunteer engagement and relevant education regarding combating food waste, early church principles and resourcefulness.

“The moment we begin walking in a relationship with Jesus, He changes everything. We start to see what He sees, desire to love how He loves and realize that the moments we are the most fulfilled are the moments when we are giving ourselves away. Come join us in an incredible adventure of life on mission.”

“God’s plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.” – Colossians 1:27

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Natalie Spronk

Natalie literally moved across the ocean in obedience to Jesus. She has dedicated her life to propelling the mission, vision and purpose of Grace Klein Community. As the Director of Development, her heart specifically is drawn to global partner advocacy, business, church and donor engagement, internship assignments, organizational development, event planning, facilitating special projects, and serving as host of The House on the Hill, one of our community homes. Natalie is a native of South Africa with 13 years of experience in administration and human resource management. 

In 2013, Natalie committed to serve onsite in Zambia, alongside the Directors of Kwathu Ministries, Jeanette and Agripa Phiri. In a privileged and blessed position, Natalie shared love, life and faith with the precious Kwathu children, empowering and investing in the future generation. Every child should know they are accepted and known. No matter what obstacles or setbacks come, Father God can transform our hurt into a testimony of His saving Grace. 

In 2014, her original two-month plan was a visit to Grace Klein Community as an advocate for their partner ministry, Kwathu Ministries, but God had other plans. Grace Klein Community applied with immigration for her to remain in the United States to serve in Birmingham, AL, under an R1 VISA and a subsequent R1 VISA renewal. In October 2020, Natalie officially became a permanent resident of the United States. We are honored to have a South African on our team.

“I may be over 8,000 miles away from my home, family and friends, but I am home, I have family, and there is nothing more fulfilling than walking in the Lord’s will for your life.”

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” – Psalm 18:30

ADMINISTRATION

DonDee Osburn

DonDee provides management of the office including administration to the Grace Klein Community team. DonDee is a native of Birmingham, AL, and has an extensive employment history in non-profit administration, as well as years of experience in youth, children and adult teaching, pregnancy resources, food distribution and church office support. She received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Faulkner University and is planning to pursue completion of a master’s degree next year in social work from the University of Alabama.

In addition, DonDee is a successful business owner of Covenant Heating and Cooling, and the leader of Embrace Grace, a non-profit whose mission is to inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. Wife to Dewayne, and mama to Garth, Caleb and Hannah, DonDee is “superwoman” in disguise.

“I am honored to be serving full time on staff, using the gifts of administration and organization given to me by God in order to further His kingdom. I am humbled and grateful. And I am excited to introduce others to this life together. Let us gaze toward heaven as Stephen did, full of the Holy Spirit, as we introduce others to our Jesus and serve them as he modeled for us.”

OFFICE MANAGER

Alyna Click

Alyna grew up in Alabaster, AL, as an only child. After graduating from Thompson High School, Alyna hit a rough patch when she was pulled into the world of addiction. But GOD! Her aunt and uncle “just so happened” to come serve with Grace Klein Community, where we were able to connect Alyna to one of our staff and met Jesus. Then we were able to refer her to a recovery program where she walked through the steps of restoration and earned an associate’s degree in theology from Covenant Bible College made possible by a scholarship from Radical Restoration Ministries. After completion of the program, she returned to Birmingham, AL, and begin volunteering with GKC.  As the demands of the pandemic grew, GKC brought Alyna on staff to help run our day to day operations.

Her deep love for people is evident everyday as she serves at the Grace Klein Community office. Her ever-present smile is a light on even the most hectic days. She claims both King’s Way Church in Irondale and Liberty Church Birmingham in Hoover as hers and attends both as her schedule allows. In her free time, Alyna loves spending time outdoors (especially fishing!) and hanging out with friends and family.

“I never thought two years ago that His plan for me would be so extravagant! God has really blessed me at Grace Klein and I am so thankful to be part of the Grace Klein family.  All things are possible with God – Matthew 19:26”

She stands on the firm foundation of faith each day, especially a scripture God gave her a couple of years ago, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

SERVE TEAM AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Carla Phillips

Carla coordinates our many volunteers and serve teams which ensures Grace Klein Community operates efficiently. Whether a team of thirty landscaping at one of our community homes or a small group organizing our food shelves, she will be happily serving alongside our volunteers. During the Covid-19 season, Carla’s role shifted to Drive-Thru trainer, where she implements and trains new volunteers on a consistent food distribution drive thru process upholding the highest in CDC safety protocols.

A native of Birmingham, AL, Carla received her undergraduate and master’s degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from the University of Montevallo. She snagged her a Good Ole’ Boy from her hometown and has been happily married for 29 years to Doug Phillips. She is mother of two boys, Brooks and Tyler and two “dog”ters Sydney and Lucy.

Carla’s path to GKC took many roads. She began her career as a 3rd grade teacher at Central Park Christian School, and was promoted to her most important job, a “stay-at-home-mom” where she is blessed to have raised two upstanding young men. In 1995, she certified as a fitness instructor and successfully ran her own Jazzercise Fitness Center for 25 years. She continues to teach a couple of classes a week. Carla dabbled in retail sales and administrative work while looking for the perfect job fit… something meaningful, purposeful, enjoyable, a place she could look forward to each day. God led her to GKC.

“I am truly blessed to be a part of the GKC family. Each day I work with people I genuinely love and I am able to share food, friendship, advice, love and prayer. The best part is that I receive as much as I give. God strengthens me through those I meet. Sharing comes full circle. What a gift from God.”

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT + COMMUNICATIONS

Blake Ells

Blake has spent more than a decade working in communications for non-profits in Birmingham. He began working with Grace Klein Community in 2020, through our community partnership with Birmingham Strong, and continues to pursue relationships throughout the Birmingham community to open doors for Grace Klein Community to share its message. A native of Rogersville, Alabama, and a graduate of Auburn University, with a B.A. in Public Relations, he is growing our business relationships in the city and providing a voice for those facing food insecurity. In his spare time, Blake has written two books about the rich musical history of the state of Alabama.

VOLUNTEER CTO + FOOD RESCUE LEADER

DJ Petry

As an accomplished technologist and leader with 22+ years of experience, I excel at translating business objectives to innovative technical vision, driving continuous learning & improvement, applying architectural and engineering principles, and leading through influence in complex global organizations.

For the last ~10 years I have been applying my skills to help various non-profit organizations such as MUST Ministries, Kids Need Dads Too, Helping One Guy and the Lovelady Center, achieve their goals. I joined GKC in 2019 as the (volunteer) Chief Technology Officer with the goals of increasing their impact through the use of improved technology, process, and people development. In this role I am accountable for technology strategy, engineering and operations. My passions and skills have allowed me to drive tactical improvements across nearly all aspects of the organization and I look forward moving the organization toward our 5 year vision.

In 2021, I am looking forward to leading the primary pillar of this vision which is the goal to #FeedBHM by increasing food rescue and ending food waste through technology enablement, improved logistical processes and expanded volunteer coordination.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17

ADMINISTRATOR

Laurie O’Berry

Laurie provides administrative support to Grace Klein Community. She administrates our annual programs such as the Gifts for the Forgotten Christmas initiative, Love Does, and School Supplies. Laurie received a Bachelors in Business Management from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama.

Laurie grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and essentially raised in her Dad’s pizza place. She moved to Birmingham, Alabama in 2000, working in the claims portion of the insurance industry for 19 years before joining our team at Grace Klein Community.

She has compassion for loving and helping people.  Knowing that apart from God we are nothing, she often stops in the middle of a task to pray. Her behind the scenes role assists Grace Klein Community in being a conduit to reach those in their time of need and connect them with those who have time and resources to give.

“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything, every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT

LOGISTICS

Joel and Gayle Gilbert

Joel and Gayle Gilbert provide logistical and organizational support to the Grace Klein Community Team. Joel, a retired computer systems analyst from Southern Company, coordinates GKC volunteer drivers for daily food pick-ups for the organization, while Gayle facilitates incoming and outgoing clothing donations, diaper support, hygiene products, school supplies, etc. for Birmingham families.

The Gilberts began serving with Grace Klein Community in 2012 and soon became the backbone of the non-profit. Projects that require faithful stewardship, patience and efficiency are skillfully handled by the Gilberts. Large-scale donations, like the ones related to our No More Safety Pins clothing event, thrive under their leadership. Long-term projects, like filling a shipping container bound for South Africa with library and music supplies after 5+ years of collection, organization, and packing, are successful because of the Gilberts’ steady, strong influence.

Joel and Gayle Gilbert have been married for 54 years. They have two sons, five beautiful grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7