President & CEO of America's Second Harvest visits St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance

Recently, we had the pleasure of having Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest make her first visit to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. America’s Second Harvest is a nation-wide network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations that engages its members in the fight to end hunger. St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is a member of America’s Second Harvest. The National Office of America’s Second Harvest, located in Chicago, continues their focus on developing relationships with national food and financial donors, along with their very active participation in legislative matters, working hard to ensure passage of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill incorporates CSFP & TEFAP programs along with the Food Stamp and WIC programs. Funding for these programs is very important in helping the hungry in our community.

Vicki was able to visit the 31st Avenue, Westside and 43rd Avenue locations and was very impressed with the cleanliness and efficiency of our food bank facilities. She was very excited to hear about the programs and services we offer to the community and more so, to hear about the innovations we have introduced and are considering introducing into the food banking community. Vicki now has a better understanding of the heritage and legacy of John van Hengel as Founder of Food Banking and of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance as the world’s 1st food bank. Other visits were made to a few of our key agency partners, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and the Phoenix Human Services Campus. Vicki also had the opportunity of meeting with St. Mary’s Food Bank Executive Committee and Senior Staff and walked away from these meetings very confident in our board and staff leadership.