Mission Partner Highlight - Westside Food Bank: How food insecurity is an epidemic!

Westside Food Bank (WSFB) was founded in 1981 by the Westside Ecumenical Council, when several Westside social service agencies worked together to create a food bank warehouse that could deal with food purchases and collections on a larger scale than any single direct service agency could.Now, we provide nutritious food for more than 112,000 households in need and their families with the help of well over 55 member agencies throughout our service area. We collaborate with a host of community coalitions and multi-sector partners to strengthen the food assistance network on a large scale.How to volunteer and learn more:https://www.wsfb.org/About Genevieve Riutort and WSFB:Genevieve brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and management to her role as Westside Food bank’s leader. Her personal experience as a single woman of color raising a family amidst food and housing insecurity informs her hunger relief and anti-poverty work. Born and raised in Bronx, NY, as a child Genevieve benefited from numerous social service programs including food assistance, childcare, summer camp, performing arts, and scholarship programs. Years later, as a single mother of three in the midst of a divorce, Genevieve relied on government safety net programs such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) WIC, state subsidized healthcare, and subsidized housing. It was getting a job at Westside Food Bank in 2004 that put her on the path out of poverty and being able to support her family.Genevieve is passionate about bringing innovative approaches to difficult problems and collaborating for community impact. She loves sharing her expertise in nonprofit management, fundraising, communications and media relations to lift others up and expand the collective impact of the social good sector. Over her more than 20-year career in the nonprofit world she has provided education on issues and impact through workshops and presentations, by facilitating meetings and roundtables, organizing conferences and convenings, and providing coaching and mentoring.She has worked at Westside Food Bank since 2004, previously serving as Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer. WSFB’s income has more than tripled during her tenure with strong support from private foundations and individuals.She plays a key role on WSFB’s Strategic Planning Committee and works on updating systems, revising policies, staff engagement, emergency preparedness and disaster planning. She facilitates communication and coordination between multiple food service providers in West Los Angeles County working with the Westside Coalition on Housing, Hunger and Health as well as Westside Food Bank’s member agencies.Genevieve has represented Westside Food Bank in hundreds of media appearances including on-air interviews for radio and television programs, podcasts, webinars, live talks, and newspaper and magazine articles. She was the host and producer of the City TV Santa Monica talk show Nonprofit Profiles  for 3 seasons where she interviewed nonprofit leaders, staff, volunteers, and clients and has produced numerous promotional videos and PSAs.Support the showSupport us here:https://www.bpcusa.org/financial-ministry/BPC Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/BrentwoodPresbyterianChurch