About Us

Food Distribution Milestones

4.6 Million

Pounds of Food
Distributed in 2024

4.2 Million

Pounds of Food
Distributed in 2023

5.1 Million

Pounds of Food
Distributed in 2022

4.7 Million

Pounds of Food
Distributed in 2021

Organization Mission Values Affiliation Staff Directors Documents

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Our Organization

Founded in 2013, the Community Food Bank (CFB) is a lifeline for individuals and families throughout Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties who are facing food insecurity. Our sole purpose is to ensure no one goes hungry. Hunger is hurting our entire community as thousands of young men, women, and senior citizens who have never sought food assistance in the past find they are unable to feed themselves or their families.

The CFB raises funds, collects food, and provides tangible resources to 60+ food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers, ministries, and other resource agencies to help them serve individuals and families throughout our community.

Mission ~ Vision ~ Values

Our Mission:
Our Mission is to be the driving force to:
- Promote awareness
- Inspire involvement
- End hunger
Our Vision:
Our Just Cause – A Hunger-Free Community
Our Values:
- Partnership
  We are Better Together and mindful that our mission is accomplished through the generosity of others.
- Empathy
  We compassionately understand Hunger Hurts all it touches.
- Integrity
  We honor all contributions with efficiency and transparency.
- Inclusive
  We welcome and respect all.
- Excellence
  We strive in every action to End Hunger
End Hunger, Nourish Hope

Our Values

Respect
We respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person and treat all with justice, equity and compassion. We honor the lives, concerns and stories of people in need and expect our partners to do the same. We accept one another and encourage diversity of thoughts and ideas.
Integrity
We honor all contributions with efficiency and transparency.
Urgency
We operate with an acute sense of urgency that reflects the immediate needs of hungry people. We challenge our employees, volunteers and partners to embrace the same urgency to accomplish our shared vision.
Diversity
CFB is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity and access in our operations, distributions, partnerships, and all efforts. We value, promote, and believe that diversity, inclusion, equity, and access will deepen our connections, empower one another, and expand our knowledge, impact, beliefs, experiences, and understanding of diverse communities and the people who reside there.
Partnership
We are Better Together and mindful that our mission is accomplished through the generosity of others.
Excellence
We strive in every action to End Hunger.

Stewardship and Accountability
We keep faith with the public trust through the efficient and compassionate use of resources entrusted to us and are mindful that our mission is accomplished through the generosity of others. We maintain and communicate accurate and timely information on hunger research, education, advocacy and service. We evaluate and account regularly for how resources are used to implement and achieve our mission.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of the community. We collaborate and build strong relationships, based on trust with and among those who share our vision of creating a hunger-free Citrus County.
Quality Service
We believe quality service is fundamental to creating a hunger-free Citrus County. We serve with excellence, compassion and responsiveness to meet the needs of those with whom we work, internally and externally. The better we serve the more people we bring together in commitment to our vision.
Empathy
We compassionately understand Hunger Hurts all it touches.
Inclusive
We welcome and respect all.

Our Affiliation With Feeding Tampa Bay

The Community Food Bank is a 501 (c)(3) organization that has executed a contract with Feeding Tampa Bay for the purpose of the logistical transfer of food and grocery product from Feeding Tampa Bay and local food stores. The Community Food Bank is identified as a Redistribution Organization, or RDO, to Feeding Tampa Bay. Because we both believe that hunger is unacceptable in our nation, we commit ourselves to:

Work with unity of purpose toward the common goal of maximizing the provision of safe and nutritious food resources to people in need, and relieving hunger throughout the United States of America.
Collaborate at the local level, coordinating services, sharing resources and providing mutual support in order to best meet the needs of hungry people. This commitment requires alignment of individual and organizational interests, with common goals, in a spirit of mutual accountability and partnership.
Uphold professional standards and a code of conduct based on trust, mutual respect and support for one another.

Our Partnership with Farm Share

The CFB works to facilitate the USDA TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) through Farm Share. TEFAP programming provides canned, self-stable goods, and frozen foods for low-income households. These foods supplement those received from Farm Share’s recovery program.

Our Partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

n the event of a natural disaster or emergency, FEMA will dispatch relief goods directly to the CFB for local distribution. By utilizing our agency partners, we can swiftly address residents’ needs and expedite recovery.

Staff

Barbara Sprague

CEO/Executive Director
✅6 YEARS

Stephanie James

Operations Manager
✅ 1 YEAR

Billy Simas

Warehouse Manager
✅9 YEARS

Seth Dupelle

Assistant Warehouse Manager
✅4 YEARS

Wesley Wooters

Warehouse Assistant
✅3 YEARS

Charles Camden

Driver
✅11 YEARS

Bill Bowser

Driver
✅6 YEARS

Robert Rodriguez

Driver
✅4 YEARS

Andi Cecchini

Driver
✅2 YEARS

Volunteer Board of Directors

Officers

President

Stephan (Steve) Ponticos
CEO, Sweetwater Homes of Citrus

Vice President

Cynthia Lopell
President, CL 22 Productions

Treasurer

Foster Lamm
Retired/Black Diamond Foundation

Secretary

Ed Gruber
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

Directors:

Mike Orlito
Realtor, RE / MAX Realty One

JoAnne Boggus
Community Advocate
Retired, School Administrator

John Marmish
Community Advocate

John Mitten
Franchisee, Chick-Fil-A®

Maggie Moore
Caldwell Banker Next Generation

Liz Casner
Tropic Shores Realty

Documents

IRS Form 990: 2019 | 2020 | 2021
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Donor Bill of Rights
Strategic Plan: 2022
Audit Report: 2021

From our Blog

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Solicitations of Contributions

The CFB is registered in the State of Florida under the Solicitations of Contributions Act. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Registration Number: CH31299 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) NO GOODS OR SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO OR EXCHANGED WITH THE DONOR. https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Charities