Feeding
Our Future

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Mission

Leading the fight against hunger in Ventura County.

Vision

Feeding the need since 1978, because no one should go hungry.

Food Share’s Vision
For The Future

After 40 years of operating in the same facility Food Share has outgrown its current space. The growth in hunger since Food Share first opened its doors – compounded by fires, floods, pandemic, inflation, recession and other factors – has brought the facility to beyond-full capacity. Unable to expand its current footprint at Southbank Road, even with the addition of an offsite warehouse, lack of space is hindering Food Share’s ability to continue serving the growing need across Ventura County.

1995

2021

“All under one roof.”

The preliminary design concept is a new 85,000-square-foot food bank that will include increased storage space, doubled refrigeration and freezer capacity, six loading docks, and a workspace for the thousands of volunteers – without whom, Food Share cannot run. Having operational, administrative and volunteer functions; all under one roof, will significantly increase operating efficiencies. When a rare opportunity to purchase 11.8 acres, close to the current food bank presented itself, Food Share purchased the undeveloped land with funds earmarked for future expansion.

Working with a project manager, architect, and a team of construction experts, 1425 Mariner Drive is the future home that will enable Food Share to continue its mission, leading the fight against hunger in Ventura County.

Areas Current New Increase
Overall Warehouse Capacity 42,000 sq. ft. spanning three warehouses 85,000 sq. ft. in one warehouse 102%
Pallet Spaces Available 1,400 spaces 3,800 spaces 171%
# of Parking Spots 36 173 388%
Cooler/Freezer 2,900 sq. ft. 7,200 sq. ft. 148%
Volunteer Sorting Area 4,600 sq. ft. 7,700 sq. ft. 67%
Training/Conference Center none 2,200 sq. ft. 100%
# of Conference Rooms 1 7 600%
# of Loading Docks 1 in ground 6 attached bays 500%

Funding The Future

With a total project budget of $50 million, Food Share has already secured $32 million through a combination of public funding, board reserves, and private support. The organization is poised to raise the remaining $18 million through philanthropic investments to construct its new 85,000-square-foot facility. This endeavor represents Food Share’s most extensive and ambitious expansion project to date, marking a significant milestone for the organization and hunger-relief in Ventura County.

Feeding Our Future Goal: $50 Million

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Estimated Budget:

Land Acquisition $10 million
Planning, Design, Site Prep and Permitting $2.8 million
Construction $28 million
Contingencies, Soft Costs, and Escalation $5.7 million
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $3.5 million
Total Capital Project Cost: $50 million

Our Future Home
All Under One Roof

1425 Mariner Drive, Oxnard, CA | 11.8 Acre Parcel

FOOD INSECURITY means not having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

What Is Food Share?

Food Share, Ventura County’s food bank, is the largest hunger relief organization in the county serving over 250,000 food-insecure people annually. By providing access to free, nutritious food, Food Share ensures that no one goes hungry.

Founded in 1978 in a family garage as a grassroots philanthropic organization, Food Share now distributes nearly 21 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of 17.5 million meals, annually.

Last year, Food Share provided food with a retail value of nearly $65 million to organizations including local after-school clubs, churches, colleges, homeless shelters, and a multitude of other food pantries and social services organizations across the county.

 

Food Share Clients Served (2016-2024)

1 IN 4 PEOPLE in Ventura County
sought Food Share’s support in 2024.

250,000

PEOPLE SERVED
(UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS)

840K+

NUMBER OF VC
RESIDENTS

31%

% OF VC COUNTY
POPULATION SERVED

335

DISTRIBUTION
LOCATIONS

200

PARTNER AGENCIES

21M

POUNDS OF FOOD
DISTRIBUTED

17.5M

EQUIVALENT # OF
MEALS PROVIDED

$65M

EST. RETAIL VALUE OF
FOOD DISTRIBUTED

Why Food Share Is
More Than A Food Bank

Food Share’s work is critical to providing a healthy future for thousands of people in Ventura County. Food insecurity is a pressing public health issue. Countless studies have shown the impact that poor nutrition has on mental and physical health, on children’s academic performance, and seniors’ ability to remain active and independent.

A partner to local pantries and advocate for hunger programs

  • Nearly 190 food pantries rely on Food Share to feed their communities. Food Share sources fresh, shelf-stable, and culturally appropriate food, at no cost, to meet a diverse array of needs.
  • As a member of Feeding America and the California Association of Food Banks, Food Share engages with elected officials to support policies that address the root causes of hunger.

A logistics organization

  • Food Share rescues, purchases, sorts, and distributes more than 1.75 million pounds of food each month. The organization also diverted 10+ million pounds of food from landfill last year.
  • Via its fleet of 30 vehicles traveling 100,000+ miles, Food Share distributed nearly 21 million pounds of food across Ventura County.

A responsible fiscal steward and trusted nonprofit

  • 94 cents of every dollar donated to Food Share is invested in hunger-relief programs and services.
  • For every dollar donated, Food Share is able to provide the equivalent of three meals.

A place to give back

  • Food Share operates through the support of 44,000 annual hours of service provided by 4,400 volunteers each year.

How Food Share Works

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Food Drives

Supermarkets

Neighborhood backyard

Farmers

Direct purchases from food manufacturers

Pantries

Shelters/group homes

After-school programs

Drive-thru distrubutions

Congregate meal sites

Senior kits

Special Initiatives:

Food Share has specialized programs to meet the unique challenges of Ventura County’s most vulnerable populations

Seniors

Via its Senior Food Box Program, Food Share provides shelf-stable food and fresh produce to 3,400 low-income seniors at 40 distribution sites each month.

Farmworkers:

Specialized distributions to farmworkers in the fields have provided much-needed access to food and household essentials. Food Share distrib..

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The Unhoused:

The population living on the streets, in vehicles, and in temporary housing rose by 25% during the pandemic. Food Share responded by de..

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Children and Students:

The Kids’ Farmers’ Market Program provides children attending after-school
programs with nutrition educ..

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Contact Us

For more information and to learn about naming opportunities, please contact

Jennifer Caldwell, Chief Development Officer – JCaldwell@foodshare.com

Food Share Leads the Way –
A Recognized Leader

Named by the Pacific Coast Business Times as one of the Best Places to Work on the Central Coast in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Named Top Nonprofit of the Year in 2021 and 2022 by Ventura County Star readers (Reader’s Choice Award).

Honored by Feeding America with the 2022 Network Celebration Award, recognizing excellence in community building.

Named Nonprofit of the Year 2021 by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. and 2021 Award of Excellence from the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce

CEO, Monica White, received the 2024 Rodney Fernandez Founder’s Award for Excellence in Visionary Leadership.

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