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. Our efforts enable area agencies to provide food assistance to more than 70,000 people each month. We’re on track to distribute more than five (5) million pounds of food in 2022.
Mission ~ Vision ~ Values
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
Volunteer Board of Directors
Officers
President
Stephan (Steve) Ponticos
CEO, Sweetwater Homes of Citrus
Vice President
Cynthia Lopell
President, CL 22 Productions
Secretary
Ed Gruber
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Treasurer
Foster Lamm
Retired/Black Diamond Foundation
Directors:
Mike Orlito
Realtor, RE / MAX Realty One
JoAnne Boggus
Community Advocate
Anthony Kopka
Retired Daystar Citrus
John Mitten
Franchisee Chik-Fil-A
Karen Nicolai
Retired Hernando County Clerk of Courts
Doug Brainard
Community Advocate
John Marmish
Community Advocate
Steven Hilsdon
President / CEO, Avant-garde Consulting and Professional Services, LLC
Advisory Board
Jewel Lamb
The Crystal Group
Duane Dueker
Retired IBM
Johnny Cash
Wardlow & Cash, CPA
Joe Cappuccilli
Wrangler Holdings
