Who We Are

Karen Barnes is the director of operations for Raising Change. For over 20 years Karen has worked in a corporate setting as a retail buyer in New York City for stores such as Bloomingdales and other Federated Divisions. In this role Ms. Barnes was responsible for creating and executing sales plans, and growing existing businesses. Business travel to the Far East and India sparked her attention to those impoverished and a desire to get involved.

Several years later leaving a non-stop life in New York she moved to the Pioneer Valley in Northampton. She was an owner/operator of a small business selling prepared food inspired from the Mediterranean. The store provided healthy meals at an affordable price for busy families to pick up and take home.

Having a presence in the community created strong relations with other local businesses, colleges, and non-profit organizations such as the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and Habitat For Humanity. In addition she began volunteering to mentor mothers with drug and alcohol addiction. Many of the women Karen has mentored have gone onto lead productive and rewarding lives with their families.