Are you interested in learning about local nonprofits and how they operate? Still trying to find your interest and passion in the nonprofit sector? Don't miss this exclusive members only opportunity for a Behind the Scenes tour of a local nonprofit organization.

This month's tour takes us to Miramar where we will explore the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 28 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank serves, on average, 350,000 people per month in San Diego County.

President and CEO James Floros, will lead us on our tour. Learn not only about what the food bank does, but also learn more about how a local nonprofit can have a successful social enterprise component to it.

This is a FREE event! All are welcome!

About James Floros:

James Floros joined the San Diego Food Bank from the Burn Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing fire and burn injuries and deaths, where he served as executive director and CEO from 1992 to 2012. Before that, Jim served as director of community relations at the world headquarters of Project Concern International, a development agency that provides clean drinking water and immunizations in the poorest regions of the world.

Since taking over as president and CEO, Jim has presided over a major expansion of Food Bank programs, cutting-edge facility improvements, an increase in the number of people served by the Food Bank every month from 320,000 to 350,000, and led major food drive, fundraising and marketing campaigns.

In 2013, Jim founded the Food Bank’s signature fundraising event, our annual Chefs, Cork & Craft Gala, which is held at the Food Bank’s warehouse every year. And he significantly expanded our annual San Diego Blues Festival that takes place in September at the downtown San Diego waterfront. In addition, Jim created the Food Bank’s Leadership Council, a grassroots membership body that helps the Food Bank with fundraising, external promotion, and events.

Jim oversaw the funding and construction of the Food Bank’s Recycling & Composting Center located at the rear of the Food Bank’s warehouse facility. The center will prevent 600,000 pounds of waste from going to local landfills every year and will save $25K in annual landfill fees. The center takes the Food Bank one step closer to becoming a net-zero waste organization since all food waste processed by the center is turned into compost and donated to local community gardens.

Jim also oversaw the establishment of a 9,000 sq. ft. Volunteer & Events Center and a $1 million solar energy installation on the Food Bank’s rooftop consisting of 1,400 solar panels, making the Food Bank energy independent and saving the organization $120,000 in annual energy costs.

Jim led the Food Bank’s acquisition of the North County Food Bank through an agreement brokered with its former parent organization, North County Community Services. In 2015, the San Diego Food Bank assumed full control of the North County Food Bank’s hunger-relief programs, staff, truck fleet, and its warehouse facility in San Marcos. The acquisition doubled the Food Bank’s outreach and services in North County and brought added efficiency and greater resources to hunger-relief services for individuals and families in need.

Since Jim’s arrival at the Food Bank he has moved the focus of the organization from simply “food banking” to comprehensive “nutrition banking” in order to fight nutrition-related disease – especially among the children we serve because nutrition-related disease is linked to poverty, and children who are hungry struggle to learn. Without an education, “food insecure” children will struggle to succeed in life and continue the cycle of poverty.

Under Jim’s leadership, the Food Bank distributed more than 7 million pounds of fresh produce to families in need this past fiscal year, and the Food Bank is distributing more fresh, healthy food to more families than ever before.

Parking Note: Parking is available directly in front of the building or in the lot that's straight ahead as you enter the cul-de-sac. There is a Volunteer Entrance on the corner of the building - please do not use that door. Instead, continue around towards the front of the building where you will see the large Food Bank logo overhead. Upon entering the facility, please check-in with the receptionist and you will be guided to the conference room.

Please be sure to wear closed toe shoes, as it is a safety requirement for touring the warehouse.

This is a FREE event! All are welcome!