Global Foodbanking Network

Our mission is to alleviate world hunger.

We do this by supporting food banks and food bank networks where they exist, and by working collaboratively to create them in communities where they are needed.

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to creating, supplying and strengthening food banks and food bank networks throughout the world. We support the largest non-governmental network devoted to fighting hunger and are the only such private sector network operating on the global level.

GFN was founded in 2006 by four of the world's leading national food bank networks: Red Argentina de Bancos de Alimentos (Argentina), Food Banks Canada, Asociación Mexicana de Bancos de Alimentos (Mexico) and Feeding America (United States). Our intention is to fulfill the vision of John Van Hengel, who founded the world's first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1967 and worked to promote and establish food banking around the world.

What We Do

To address the mounting global food crisis, we:

• Assess community and country-wide food assistance needs
• Identify food surplus and sourcing opportunities
• Develop partnerships with sponsoring food bank organizations
• Provide planning & technical support
• Secure funding support for food banking capacity development
• Build food sourcing capacity in food banks and nationally
• Connect network members to global grocery product leaders
• Share logistical, operational and technology support
• Promote best practices through training and mentoring
• Assure food bank compliance with food safety standards
• Recruit business, faith, community and government leaders to join us
• Align food banking systems with local resources, governments and global resource partners.

The Value We Deliver

For those in need, we represent more food and a step forward on the path to self-sufficiency. Food banks provide immediate support, and they also connect people with vital resources that can help break the cycle of poverty and function as bedrocks of stability and sustenance in communities.

For our donors, we represent a global presence that allows them to address the hunger issue wherever they do business.  In a world where distance continues to shrink and borders are transcended by travel, technology and commerce, GFN matches the scope of its partners.

For our food banks, we represent a source of expertise and guidance, as well as a means for enhancing relationships with global partners who want to help alleviate hunger but may be headquartered outside of a food bank’s community or country.

GFN Staff

Bob Forney
President & CEO
rforney@foodbanking.org

Colleen Campbell
Development Assistant
ccampbell@foodbanking.org

Dick Hurst
Food Ambassador
rhurst@foodbanking.org

Deb Keegan
Director of Food Sourcing
dkeegan@foodbanking.org

Jacqui Lyda
Accounting & Administration Assistant
jlyda@foodbanking.org

Christopher Rebstock
Vice President, Network Development
crebstock@foodbanking.org

Beth Saks
Chief Financial Officer
bsaks@foodbanking.org

Maurice Weaver
Senior Project Manager
mweaver@foodbanking.org

Cathe Wood
Director of Development
cwood@foodbanking.org

Board of Directors

William A. Rudnick (Chairman)
Partner
DLA Piper LLP (US), USA

Pat Tracy (Vice Chairman)
Chairman of the Board
DOT Foods, USA

Luciano Aimar Reyes
Executive President
Asociación Mexicana de Bancos de Alimentos, MEXICO

Ricardo Bon Echavarría
Past President of the Board of Directors
Asociación Mexicana de Bancos de Alimentos, MEXICO

Adolfo Brennan
Member of the Board of Directors
Banco de Alimentos Mendoza, ARGENTINA

Carlos Enrique Cavelier
President
Alqueria S.A.
COLOMBIA

The Honorable Eva Clayton
Former Congresswoman, North Carolina
Former Deputy Assistant Director - Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), USA

Jaynee Day
President and CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, USA

Jean Delmelle
President, European Federation of Food Banks, Belgian Federation of Food Banks, BELGIUM

Arnold Donald
USA

Professor Mahmud Duwayri
The Jordanian Alliance Against Hunger, JORDAN

Cheri Fox
Executive Director, The Fox Family Foundation
Co-Chair, The Forum to Address Food Insecurity and Poverty in Israel, ISRAEL

Claudio Marcelo Giomi
Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility
ARCOR, ARGENTINA

Wayne Hellquist
President & CEO Regina & District Food Bank Inc., CANADA

Angela Joyce, CPA
USA

Timothy Knowlton
Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility
Kellogg Company, USA

Karen Kurek
Managing Director, Manufacturing & Wholesale Distribution Lead, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
USA

Bill McGowan
Chief Operating Officer
Feeding America, USA

William Mzimba
Chief Executive
Accenture South Africa,
SOUTH AFRICA

Sam Pitroda
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of India for Technology Infrastructure and Innovation
President & CEO, C-SAM, Inc.
India / USA

H. Eric Schockman, Ph.D.
President & CEO
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, USA

Terry Shannon
President & CEO
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, USA

Esther Silver-Parker
Senior VP of Corporate Affairs
Wal-Mart Stores Ince, USA