Since assuming operations of the North County Food Bank at the request of the community in 2015, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank has grown this facility’s operations from distributing approximately 550,000 pounds of food in that first year to more than 7.5 million pounds this past fiscal year. During this same time, distributions between both warehouses went from 3.4 million pounds to almost 12 million pounds this past year! Now, the San Diego Food Bank is taking the next step to fully integrate the North County Food Bank facility into our regional network of services, by unifying it under our same name.
The Food Bank has a long history of pioneering innovative programs to meet the county’s evolving and diverse needs — this includes our diaper bank and period supply programs, which operate out of our North County facility. However, one question we often hear is whether the Miramar and North County facilities are part of the same organization. This integration will help community members better navigate these life-changing services, reducing confusion, streamlining access and expanding our overall impact.
Better Addressing the Growing Food Insecurity Challenges in Our Northernmost Cities
Even though we’ve made strides as an organization to continuously increase our impact over the years, hunger continues to be a pressing challenge in our community — touching the lives of thousands of families throughout San Diego County.
According to the San Diego Hunger Coalition, approximately one in four San Diego County residents are estimated to be nutrition insecure. Surveys conducted as part of a San Diego State University study at 16 food distribution sites across the county support this. Over half of North County survey respondents indicated they regularly depend on the North County Food Bank for support and reported an average income of $8,000 less than the overall County average.
“Despite ongoing economic uncertainty,” says Casey Castillo, San Diego Food Bank CEO, “the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank remains committed to the community we’ve served for over 45 years. Through this integration, we will support more people in North County and beyond, paving the way for more growth in our next chapter.”
Unified Name, New Logo, Same Mission
In coordination with the name and operations integration, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank has unveiled a modernized logo, developed with input from stakeholders, to unify our look and branding. This new logo, along with a unified name and website encompassing both San Diego and North County facilities, will remove confusion and make it easier for community members to access vital hunger-relief resources they need, when they need them. The Food Bank will continue to fulfill the same great mission, with a reinforced commitment to our northernmost neighbors.
We invite community members to join us in this exciting new chapter by volunteering, donating or sharing news of our rebranding. Together, we can make a lasting impact on hunger in North County and in other communities throughout San Diego County.
Have questions about this exciting new chapter? Send us an email at communications@sandiegofoodbank.org. We look forward to engaging with you and answering any additional questions you may have!