Community Food Bank Inc., dba Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
One in six children and one in nine adults face hunger in Arizona. 269,610 children living in Arizona are food insecure. Unemployment, underemployment and the high cost of food, gas, and rent continue to be an issue in Pima, Graham-Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties. Communities thrive when people are nourished. The Community Food Bank and their 385 partners help our neighbors facing food insecurity throughout southern Arizona.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Agency Market
Provides donated food items to non-profit agencies (501c3) that serve food on site, or create a take home package of food for needy individuals and families. The majority of the food for this program comes from local sources such as grocery stores and buying clubs. We also get food from food drives, food manufacturing and shared excess food from food banks across the nation.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP/Food Box)
Provides a once a month food box to low income individuals and households. The box is comprised of surplus USDA commodities, donated food items from food drives, and local resources. We also purchase certain items that we do not get enough donated, such as peanut butter. We also supplement these boxes with fresh bread and produce as available. These boxes are meant to provide 2 to 3 days of assistance while they are seeking additional assistance. We are contracted with DES to serve Pima, Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Counties.
We provide pre-made Food Boxes to 38 partner sites in Pima County who manage the distribution to clients, and we deliver and handle same day distribution of Food Boxes to 28 cities throughout Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Counties. Our 4 Branch Banks all provide TEFAP Food Boxes plus they all offer a second additional Food Box containing non-USDA items such as excess bread, produce, or store donations.
CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program)
CSFP is a partnership between the USDA and PCHD to provide a nutritionally balanced USDA commodities food package once a month to income eligible seniors. Our case load each month is approximately 5,000 seniors. They are eligible to pick up their box at our Country Club facility, numerous housing complexes in Tucson, partner agency locations, or any of our Resource Center locations. Through this program we serve individuals of Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties.
Garden Program
The garden program is composed of three elements: home gardening program, Nuestra Tierra demonstration garden, and the home garden cooperative. As a community resource, anyone is eligible to sign-up for free, or by donation, to be a member of the home gardening program. Membership gives you access to vegetable seeds, seedlings, compost, garden materials, garden advice and a monthly e-newsletter. Members are encouraged to volunteer, help with installing other home gardens, attend workshops, and educate their local community. There are over 900 current Home Gardening Program members.
The Nuestra Tierra Demonstration Garden is open to the public during business hours, and offers a ¼ acre friendly space to showcase best practices for desert food production, such as sunken veggie beds, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and composting. Approximately 150 people visit the garden each week, and the garden logs 7,000 volunteer hours each year. Workshops on various topics related to home food production are held at the Community Food Bank Nuestra Tierra Garden (as well as Las Milpitas farm) during the fall and spring seasons, and are free to the public (donations suggested). Additional gardening classes at community sites are also held throughout the year, and may be requested by an organization or school group. Vegetables harvested from Nuestra Tierra are sold at Community Food Bank farmers’ markets and sales go back into the program.
Income-qualifying individuals are eligible to be a home garden cooperative member. Members attend three basic gardening classes, complete three gardening workshops and support another home garden installation to become eligible for a "digging party” (garden installation) at their own home, plus one year of continued support. Eligibility follows the same income levels as WIC qualification. There are over 200 home vegetable gardens in Pima County that have been built through this program. Graduates of the Cooperative can become Garden Mentors. Mentors are paired with new cooperative members in their geographic area and provide advice and support through the new member’s first year of gardening.
Farmers' Market Program
The Farmers’ Market program provides a way for food-insecure communities to access fresh, locally-grown nutritious produce. By offering space and consignment sales to local vendors, the markets also provide support for local farmers and gardeners, strengthening our regional food system. We sell a variety of naturally-grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, herbs, coffee, honey, and baked goods. Our Farmers’ Markets are the only ones in Southern Arizona which accept WIC, SNAP, and AZFMNP, as well as cash and credit. Our 3 weekly markets are:
• El Pueblo Farm Stand: Monday 3-5pm at the El Pueblo Clinic parking lot, Irvington Rd. and S 6th Ave.
• Community Food Bank Market: Tues 8-12pm at CFB.
• Santa Cruz River Market: Thursday 3-6pm (Oct-Apr), and 4-7pm (May-Sept) at El Mercado San Augustin, 100 S Avenida del Convento
Gardeners and small farmers have an opportunity to sell any amount of unprocessed, naturally-grown produce and eggs at the farmers’ market on consignment. The Farmers’ Market sells their produce and returns 90% of profits to the grower. Any unsold items are considered a donation by the grower and are distributed to our clients as bonus items within the pantry.
Caridad Community Kitchen
CCK provides approximately 14,000 nutritious meals per month to those in need in Tucson. These nutritious meals are distributed to 11 meal sites in our community that have agreed to be public walk-in meal sites for the poor, low-income and homeless. The 14,000 meals are prepared by our Culinary Training Program Students under the guidance of our Executive Chef and Sous Chef. Our Culinary Training Program is an integral part of CCK. We enroll 8-10 students into our 10 week free training program, where they work full time 40 hours a week and learn knife skills, culinary math, menu planning, how to create the 5 Mother Sauces, and various cooking techniques. The students also receive instruction on Life Skills which encompasses: how to prepare a resume, job search, interview, budgeting, and more. Potentials students go through a rigorous interview process and must fit our criteria of being low-income, from an at risk population, looking to improve themselves as they may have been incarcerated, in a drug rehab program or unemployed. CCK partners with many local restaurants, resorts, hospitals, casinos, schools and corporations to help in the placement of our students.
Farm to Child Program
The goal of this program is to help children and youth access fresh, locally grown food through their school gardens and cafeterias. Program staff accomplish this by working to reduce policy barriers and also build capacity with teachers, parents, and cafeteria staff. In 2013, we received a Farm-to-School grant from the USDA to partner with Tucson Unified School District, where we are helping a dozen schools maximize their garden production to serve the food in the cafeteria. We provide seasonal school garden trainings, seeds, and seedlings, among other things, to approximately 50 schools. While school gardening is the focus of the program, we also aim to support cafeterias in their efforts to acquire produce from local farmers on a larger scale.
Las Milpitas de Cottonwood Farm
The Community Food Bank partnered with City High School and Pima County in 2011 to create Las Milpitas de Cottonwood; an education-based, community-managed farm located on the west bank of the Santa Cruz River, on Cottonwood Ln, south of Silverlake Rd. The surrounding neighborhood residents play a key role in the visioning, planning, construction, and operation at the Farm. Involvement in this space is open to anyone.
The farm offers irrigated sunken-bed garden plots for neighbors to grow food. Each group who wishes to adopt a plot agrees to attend a monthly meeting and pay water costs (currently $6/month). Anyone is welcome to apply, but preference is given based on proximity to the farm and lack of access to home garden space. Las Milpitas also offers community facilities like a shade structures and an outdoor classroom for hosting classes and events (ours or other schools/groups' classes). These ramadas are always available and do not require reservation.
A committee comprised of those interested in the day-to-day operations and future direction of the farm meets regularly to discuss issues, plan events, and provide farm support. This committee is bilingual (English/Spanish) and open to anyone.
Gabrielle Giffords Resource Center (GGRC)
GGRC supports community members through SNAP application assistance and family advocacy, SNAP Outreach and training, and family literacy education opportunities.
GGRC has three work stations dedicated to one-on-one assistance on applications for SNAP, AHCCCS, and Cash Assistance as well as one work station dedicated to family advocacy. This provides a way to connect those in need with immediate food assistance, as well as educate the community about assistance programs and connect individuals in need with other programs and services available within the Food Bank and other partner organizations.
SNAP application staff performs outreach visits to pantries, schools, public libraries and events to educate the community about Community Food Bank food assistance resources in addition to processing SNAP applications at designated sites. The GGRC staff also aims to train partner organization staff and volunteers to establish permanent SNAP assistance locations, eventually operating without CFB staff.
GGRC also offers a SNAP Promotora training where committed individuals assist others with SNAP/AHCCCS applications and are educated on food systems and community organizing. Upon completion of the training, promotoras will be equipped to assist those in their community with applications, either from the GGRC office or another site.
The GGRC also teaches an Economic/Family Literacy curriculum to parents who wish to provide better opportunities for their children. Classes are available for groups upon request. Class topics include information about assistance programs and services that are available, nutrition and diet, cultural/family exercises, and community building activities.
School Pantries
School pantries are an emerging trend throughout the Feeding America nation-wide network of food banks. They are intended to alleviate child hunger by providing resources to families at convenient locations. Our goal is to make food assistance and other resources accessible to low-income children and families.
Our first school pantry opened in December 2014 at Wright Elementary School, when an unused office space was converted into a pantry. In April 2015, a client-choice mobile pantry was opened at Dietz Elementary School. In the fall of 2015, the program was expanded to three additional sites in the Tucson Unified School District. Currently, we operate 9 school pantries, including 3 mobile pantries and 2 family resource centers. The School Pantry Program incorporates nutrition education through classes, food demonstrations, and recipe handouts.
After School Meals & Snacks Program
The After School Snack program partners with five Tucson Parks and Recreation sites through their KidCo and Inbetweeners Club programs—after-school recreation programs for children ages 5-14. Throughout the school year we provide healthy, after-school snacks five days a week to each site through the USDA at Risk after School Child and Adult Care Food Program, administered state-wide by the Arizona Department of Education. The program’s snack menu uses a four-week, rotational menu that meets ADE and USDA guidelines. Currently, there are 185 kids participating in the After School Snack Program at five Tucson Parks and Recreation sites. The program runs 38 weeks during the school year as well as throughout most school breaks through the Parks and Rec "Schoolzout” program.
In addition, we have partnered with five Boys and Girls Clubs and one Tucson Parks and Recreation Center (Roy Drachman Boys and Girls Club, Steve Daru Boys and Girls Club, Frank and Edith Morton Boys and Girls Club, Jim and Vicki Click Boys and Girls Club, Holmes Tuttle Boys and Girls Club, and Freedom Recreation Center) to provide full healthy meals to children who participate in their programs. Fresh meals are delivered to these sites every day around supper time and are served to the children free of charge by volunteers and program staff. This meal program was made possible through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which provides federal funding to help supply meals to children in need. Currently approximately 350 suppers per day are served each week day during the school year.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Feeding America 2014
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Partners include nonprofits, civic groups, schools & faith communities co-delivering services in 5 county service-area.
Number of hours of training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Equivalent to 1.3% of the workforce's time.
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
For hunger-relief and/or local food-security/food-system capacity-building at partner agencies. Includes grant dollars as well as in-kind technical assistance.
Dollars invested in local food system
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Economically disadvantaged people, Children, Families
Related Program
Farmers' Market Program
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Includes direct investment through local food purchases, as well as facilitated local produce sales to Institutional Buyers via Farm-to-Institution value chain and the farmers’ market.
Percentage of produce sourced from companies practicing fair trade or socially responsible business practices
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP/Food Box)
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Produce is sourced from Mexico, from companies practicing fair trade or socially responsible business practices, such as providing healthcare and a living wage to workers.
Employee hourly minimum wage
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Arizona's minimum wage is currently $13.85 per hour.
Percentage of food distributed at school pantries that is fresh produce
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Families
Related Program
School Pantries
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
One in six children and one in nine adults face hunger in Arizona. 269,610 children living in Arizona are food insecure. Unemployment, underemployment and the high cost of food, gas, and rent continue to be an issue in Pima, Graham-Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties. Communities thrive when people are nourished. The Community Food Bank and their 385 partners help our neighbors facing food insecurity throughout southern Arizona. Our goal is to have equitable food distribution throughout our service area for all who need it and help our neighbors become self-sufficient by providing them with education and programs that will them help grow their own food, advocate for their needs, and build resources so we can be a stronger community. Food assistance and our programs are provided without discrimination against any person because of race, color, handicap, age, national origin, sexual orientation, political beliefs or gender.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
A total of 62,181,335 pounds of food (including 41,698,316 pounds of produce) were distributed in FY22. We accomplished this in the following ways:
- Across our 5-county service area, and in partnership with USDA, the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and numerous nonprofit and faith-based community organizations, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) distributed 336,710 food boxes and 84,780 senior boxes to people experiencing hunger. Food boxes were provided through 385 agency partners in the five southeastern Arizona counties (Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz). Food was also distributed through the Community Food Bank's main warehouse in Tucson, and at our four branch locations in Amado, Marana, Green Valley and Nogales. Food boxes include non-perishable foods such as canned fruit and vegetables, pasta, soup, cereal, rice and beans, and are supplemented with fresh produce and other goods procured through our network.
- The Grocery Rescue and Agency Market Programs provide hunger relief to individuals and families who seek services from local organizations other than the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Through this network of partners, CFB reaches many more individuals than would be possible through traditional hunger relief efforts alone. Fresh produce, meats, milk, cheese, eggs, and other goods are rescued from local retailers and distributed through the partner network.
- In partnership with USDA and the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides 84, 780 senior supplemental food assistance to low-income seniors each month, totaling about 7,500 unique people over the course of the year. Food boxes are designed to provide nutrients often lacking among that population and typically include non-perishables such as canned fruit and vegetables, shelf-stable milk, soup, juice, cereal, rice and beans, as well as perishable cheese. Services are provided at our main warehouse in Tucson and our four branch locations in Amado, Marana, Green Valley and Nogales, as well as through various partner organizations.
- We served 40,402 children through school pantries and served over 128,066 afterschool meals and snacks served at public libraries and other sites. We accomplished this through 33 school pantry sites serving 123 schools while Caridad, our Community Kitchen, prepared 536,388 meals for distribution in our community.
- We work with 70 local farmers and small-scale growers to get fresh produce to our community.
- We teach leadership and advocacy skills, growing food skills, and invest in our community through our Thriving Communities grant program that supports thriving, healthy communities – anywhere from helping our community strengthen the regional food system and increasing local food pantry access to locally-grown varieties of fresh food to helping community members learn to how to advocate for their neighborhood and install community gardens.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona has been serving the community for 47 years and every year our work becomes more crucial. Throughout the years, we have strengthened our infrastructure to serve the need. We currently have 160 employees in our 8 hub facilities, supporting 385 partner agencies with a combined 500+ service sites across the 23,000 square mile 5-county area (size of West Virginia)
We have sustainable, scalable, diverse revenue streams and strong brand awareness throughout our service area. We continue to have a best-in-class AIB food-safety rating, and strong partnerships that allow us to work with local farmers, schools, neighborhoods, libraries, etc. that allow us to serve our communities and minimize duplicate efforts, so we are all working more efficiently.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our accomplishments are derived from our strong community support, our partnerships within the communities we serve and our passionate staff. We pride ourselves in the following:
A. Distribution of 62,181,335 pounds of food with 41,698,316 pounds being produce.
B. 100,000 hours contributed by volunteers (post-COVID)
C. Private support subsidized 100% of our cash-basis operating expenses
D. 76% of our total fundraising support comes from individuals
E. Clients in our service area received the following pounds of food per person.
a. Total lbs. of food (all food) per person in CFB service area = 293.36
b. Total produce pounds per person = 116.57
F. Not counting the value of donated food, 80% of a dollar went to programs. With food, 96%
G. We have 22.30 donors per 1000 people in Southern Arizona
H. We invested 2,953 hours in training and professional-development organization-wide
Every effort is made to ensure healthy, balanced sustenance is provided to address the nutritional needs of the community served. The Food Bank also incorporates valuable programming into its distribution efforts in order to fight hunger at its source: poverty. In addition to its e Nutrition Education Program, the Food Bank offers an local Coop initiative where fresh produce is sourced for clients in need, and classes are taught around gardening. We also provide assistance to individuals with SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) application so thousands of families have better access to healthcare and healthier food at the supermarket. Through our Culinary Training program, culinary and job skills training program for low-income or unemployed individuals. We change lives in the communities we serve by feeding the hungry today and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Community Food Bank Inc., dba Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Board of directorsas of 03/28/2023
Mr. Nathan Rothschild
Associate Attorney, Mesch Clark Rothschild
Term: 2022 - 2024
Lauryn Bianco
Project Manager, City of Tucson
Nathan Rothschild
Associate Attorney, Mesch Clark Rothschild
Jesus Garcia
Education Specialist, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Lydia Hunter
Senior Manager, BeachFleischman PC
Jonathan Smith
Pastor, Tucson Sharon Church
Erin Glockner
Talent Development Consultant, Ernst & Young, LLP
Rene Lopez
Pascua Yaqui Tribe Member
Dora Martinez
Co-Director, Cihuapactli Collective
Benjamin Moore
Executive Pastor, His Presence Church Arizona
Mark Brown
Help Desk Technician II, TEP
Benjamin Mendola
Asst. Legal Defender, Pima County Legal Defender's Office
Alonzo Corral
Deputy Public Defender, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Britney Kovrig
Student, University of Arizona
Yakeleen Almazan
Student, Yale University
Denise Mangano
Retired, CFB volunteer
Noel Hennessey
Director of Access, Equity and Diversity Initatives for the College of Engineering, University of Arizona
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: