Care and Share has new director

SANDUSKY — As it prepares to reopen after shutting down during the pandemic, Care and Share of Erie County has a new executive director. Anita Kromer, who took over Monday, has an extensive business background and recently was interviewing with local nonprofits, hoping to fulfill her goal of finding a position where she can help others. Kromer succeeds Linda Miller-Moore, who retired last year. Miller-Moore, a retired schoolteacher, remains active in the community, serving as president of Erie County's health board. "I've always enjoyed helping people," Kromer said. "I've been looking for something where I can give back to the community." Care and Share, at 241 Jackson St. in downtown Sandusky, provides food, clothing, linens and housewares to county residents who need help. After it shut down last spring as the pandemic heated up, the agency was limited to boxed food distributions. The next drive-thru boxed food distribution will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the former City Hall building, 222 Meigs St. Care and Share is looking to reopen later this month. An announcement will be made soon, Kromer said. Work is being done now to rebuild the food pantry. Clothing donations aren't being accepted now, but the clothing operation eventually will be restored, too. Kromer has worked as director of Revenue Cycle at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, manager of Health Information Services for Blanchard Valley Health System and plant manager for Universal Clay Products in Sandusky. Kromer also is an entrepreneur and has three college degrees, including an MBA from the University of Findlay. She is married and has three stepchildren. Kromer's parents are from India — "I'm the only one in my family born in America," she says — but she's an Ohioan who also has relatives in the area. Her brother is a local physician. She lived most of her life in Findlay. She moved to Sandusky in 1993, lived here for 10 years, returned to Findlay but came back to Sandusky in 2016. While in Findlay, she volunteered at a local community foundation and wound up working as an administrative assistant at a Findlay nonprofit, Cancer Patient Services, which helped fuel her interest in helping others. "I enjoy working with people and helping them, contributing to society and community," Kromer said. "It filled my heart and soul."