San Diego Food Bank

We attending San Diego’s Food Bank annual Cork and Craft Foodtasia Dinner Gala. Yes, it’s helped in the warehouse, but the warehouse is glitz up and glamoured to the T. Complimentary valet and some in black tie. I wore a nice cocktail dress and I still felt underdressed compared to the seasoned attendees.
We walked through the warehouse and there were a couple bars (open bar) and a silent auction. There were so many good auction items that we bid for at least 4 – 5 items. Unfortunately we were outbidded. They used an app that you were able to get notifying if you were outbidded or in you won the auction item. Cool idea!
There were tray passed appetizers and Sushi on a Roll that had a booth of sushi. There was also a bar in the freezer where you can get stronger liquor, and a small cappuccino machine if you were in the mood for caffeine.
Basically this event is where there are 20+ chefs within San Diego County that cook a 3 course custom dinner for about 50+ tables and for 500 people. Our assigned chef was Chef Vaughn from UCSD. Our 3 course dinner was a seared limoncello sea scallops, bourbon crusted lamb loin and chocolate grand mariner tart.
Our table had a VIP that was recognized for all his hard work with the food bank, and there were many other established folks in the room as well.
My husband and I had an awesome time at this event and love that the food bank does so many great events and things for our community. Such great work and love how this event brings awareness and support to the cause.

To see what 4 hours of my time can do for thousands of hungry San Diego people! I ‘am amazed to see just how much work can be done in just 4hours. If everyone can find the time donate it to San Diego Food Bank!

My review comes as a volunteer. I volunteer one Saturday per month for the past two years. I enjoy it because it’s a great and easy way to give back to the community. Also, it helps the SD Food Bank (SDFB) keep cost down and sustain what they do.
To be a volunteer, you must register online. It is easy but can be lengthy process because they will ask you questions if you are in school or if this is a court order, etc.
When you show up all volunteers, new and old, are required to watch a 10-​minute orientation video. The video is great and informative, but for returning volunteers I think their time can be better utilized.
For projects, you can sort and/​or pack a variety of food from produce to dry goods. Assignments include making boxes, packing, labeling, and stacking. They supply you gloves for the yucky stuff. The staff will talk you through the process and let you know what program you are helping. Programs include backpack for kids, seniors, etc. Projects are generally easy but can be physical, lifting up to 25lbs.
2.5 hours later your done! You helped out a good cause, burned some calories, and made some new friends. Not bad for a Saturday morning. Hope to see you there!

1 in 5 children in San Diego County are at risk of hunger. San Diego Food bank feeds more than 60,000 children, families, and seniors every week.

Though the majority of the staff here are great people, I was very disappointed to find that some clearly have reservations on allowing women to apply for actual positions in the warehouse. After doing volunteer work for almost an entire year in the warehouse, I had not seen a single woman working in the warehouse as an actual employee. After doing warehouse and other (Much harder) male dominated jobs for nearly 16 years, I took a stab at a warehouse position and was turned down… more than a month after applying. In my opinion, definitely because I am a woman. The evidence, or lack-​there-​of in the warehouse, was quite obvious. So it seems quite obvious to me personally, since I know I am more than capable and certainly qualify for a warehouse position, that there is a hand of sexism being dealt here at the Jacob Cushman’s San Diego Food Bank. Which is disheartening to say the least. After working in a sub-​managerial position in the past, I know discrimination when I see it. I have dealt with it personally before. So sad considering how highly I regard what the SDFB does for the community. Now I am not sure if I can ever look at the corporation as a whole the same way again…
UPDATE 4÷7÷2016 —
My response to Chris…
Sorry, but I just don’t buy the «un-​discriminatory» line your tossing out there. If you even bothered to interview me maybe you would have known that I can drive a clutch and have driven large moving trucks with crappy clutches in the past just fine. Even delivery type trucks with air brakes. But your automatic refusal to even entertain the idea of interviewing a woman for any serious warehouse position (And I am not talking about sitting at a computer doing inventory all day long.) is STILL very much relevant. I am still volunteering at the Food Bank on a regular basis. I see it every time I am there and yes, I am paying close attention to that fact. Seems to me though like the HR is pretty put off by my original review. The latest proof of this is apparent in the fact that my mother (Of whom anyone who knows us knows my mother and I typically volunteer together) got an invite to your Volunteer luncheon this month but I did not. Guess the bitterness runs deep in your so-​called «un-​discriminatory» work place. I don’t care to talk to you by phone thank you. I don’t care to be accosted in that manner. I continue to volunteer because I enjoy doing it and what it does for others in the community. Gee, even after more than a year of doing regular volunteering I have never even been considered a choice for «Volunteer of the month.» Wonder why that is… You’re human Chris, prone to do undesirable things to people out of bitterness and spite. As a former manager I have seen it and know it exists. Even in the most reputable companies. I don’t work in management anymore because I hated that part of the job and din’t want to have anything to do with how lowly some are looked upon for who they are. Don’t ever assume you know what is best or who can do it better until you have explored all options beyond the corporate norm my friend.

An awesome place to give back to the community. Signing up to volunteer is pretty easy; just go to the site and register. There isn’t a lengthy orientation or anything like that. After you sign up, you show up and they give you about 5 minutes of simple instructions and you’re off to work! Tasks usually start with sorting foods and checking expiration dates. They have projects like husking corn or sorting soups by meat, vegetables, and fish. Overall, it’s a quick way to volunteer, whether you’re doing it for fun, for school, or court ordered. The attendees all work closely together so there’s plenty of people to meet and talk with while volunteering, or you can quietly work alone if that’s your preference.
The glamour isn’t there with this volunteering service, but it needs to be done. It’s not as heartwarming as working at a soup kitchen or an event on the streets, but these foods do go to those in need; you just don’t see the faces on the receiving end.

I made a call for information for a neighbor, and called three times getting three voicemail messages out of separate offices. Then I called one of the contact locations for the senior program, and they said they haven’t been a food contact for about a year. Now, what if my senior friend counted on that visit to that location, and showed up to learn that? With mobility issues, it would have been a hardship and inconvenience for her to find they were no longer a viable location based on the website. Okay, I tried a 4^th call and this time got an English non-​speaker with whom I had to ask many questions to get any information. Not a friendly voice, it was hardly representative of what is acclaimed to be such a stellar organization. I’ve gotten food for a needy family in the past. That is, they got the food, but I was the contact person who found out the preliminary information beforehand. As another reviewer stated here on Unilocal,the food this family received was a joke. So much so that I went to a grocery store and bought for them out of my own pocket; this is the last time I’ll be dealing with this agency.

okay. I am a senior citizen… I am really poor… I don’t have a car and I rely mostly on public transportation the bus and trolley… I am on food stamps but I find that every month I completely run out of food and I fight hunger… I can’t pull up with a big fancy car and load all the food in the trunk… I live in Chula Vista… I don’t like garbanzo beans I don’t like Beets… all left over stuff… I think that I would rather starve… I also fear that was the lady wrote about trying to get help there will be painfully true… I hear all about these meals on wheels… and help for seniors… all I see on TV are these people asking for donations and volunteers… but really don’t see any messages directly to the senior citizens or for people who really need the food… can somebody actually write an answer to my Unilocal review and tell me specifically what I can do, who I can call, and where I can receive help… I need food and not any more aggravation… I really don’t want to be given the runaround. I just need food and I’m really interested in this meals on wheels… since I don’t get around that much… thank you in advance

I retired a little over 4 years ago and have been volunteering at the SDFB with Hands On San Diego for most of that time. I have been very blessed in my life and am thankful that I can contribute to this great organization.
Most weeks we pack food boxes for low income seniors, but there are lots of other projects too — sorting and packing fruits and veggies, bread, putting together emergency food bags and backpacks for school kids, and sorting food donations.
I have met a number of kind, hard working individuals that I look forward to seeing each week. The staff who work the evening shift are all pleasant and helpful.
I was disappointed to read the negative review by someone who went to that location for food. The SDFB sends out pallets of food daily to distribution centers. It is not set up to give food to individuals who come by. Hopefully, she has connected to one of the local centers where she can get assistance.

My boyfriend and I volunteered here during the busy holiday season, and it was one of the most glorious experiences I’ve ever had. Xavier – the volunteer coordinator – is gracious and lovely, and runs a tight ship. This is a significant operation that does wonders for the community – if you have a few hours to spare, please consider donating some of your time to keep this place running as beautifully as it currently does.

You ever wonder why all the reviews are from volunteers cause none of the homeless like this place or aren’t really getting the food.
This place is a joke!
There is a answering machine service and you have to wait to be called back by a Mexican lady.
She is not the friendly type or nice.
You get grilled about your zip code as if she really don’t want you coming there.
I showed up thinking I would get to pick my food out
Nope!!! She tells you to wait in waiting room and she will get food. I was never asked about allergies or what I wanted NOTHING!
I have a family of four. What was brought out was:
1 small bottle of juice
9 potatoes
Old rotted chicken
Bag of blueberries
2 cans of corn
1 small container of pasta
2 can of tomato sauce
Beans
The shitty part is your only allowed to come once a month.
I got nothing useful.
NO CEREALS! NO SOUPS! NO BREAD! NO MEATS JUST CRAP.
for as much money that’s being donated I am starting to wonder who is really getting the money or the food.
Another odd thing was that the place was empty of people coming to get food probably discouraged from the mean lady that works there and when we walked out we saw volunteers across the way having a delicious smelling picnic and believe me it wasn’t potatoes and tomato soup.
All the big pallets you see in the photo of food is not accurate to me. We were beyond skimped.
I don’t like this place hence the 1 star

Well organized volunteer event organized through North County Wine Fanatics Meet Up group. Food Bank staff were friendly and did a great job training us ‘newbies’ to the San Diego Food Bank. I’d like to continue volunteering here on a monthly basis.

I came here with my very community-​minded and caring boyfriend with his company to volunteer on a Friday night. I must say, the San Diego Food Bank (hereafter called SDFB) has a smoootthhh process going on, and makes the whole thing really fun!
I have only been once so far, but I believe you can do a variety of activities from filling boxes to stuffing bags. We stuffed 800 pounds of tangerines into those net bag things, and it was a wonderful time! We were with about 20 – 30 people (I am not a good judge of these things), and there were small groups surrounding boxes of oranges. We were given clear instructions and expectations, and then we set to work!
There were kids, teens, young adults, middle aged, and older adults here working in harmony. I personally loved the people I met and had a great time.
This is a volunteer-​based organization, which means they operate smoothly when they have enough volunteers. Check it out!

My alumni group volunteered here and had a wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and genuinely appreciated our help. We basically had two assembly lines setup with tasks to pack food in bags, assemble boxes, and pack boxes with the bags. They set it all up for you and help along the way, and it’s at whatever pace your group wants to go at. The radio is playing in the background making the time fly by!
In two hours, we were able to bag 882 weekend food packs for underfed kids!

Got $ 5? Got $ 10? Go to the store and get some food. Bring it to the food bank.
Last time I donated was on MLK jr. day. I went to Smart and Final and got $ 18 and some change worth of sugar, salt and coffee. You try living without those three things for a week and see how you feel.

This is a great place to volunteer. The people are nice and the whole experience gives you a different perspective on life.
Help me avoid being anything other than a volunteer. Go to my blog and click on my Google adsense about a million times. I will be eternally greatful.