What Does St. Mary's Food Bank Do?

Total employees200
HeadquartersPhoenix
Founded1967

St. Mary's Food Bank, founded in 1967 by John van Hengel in Phoenix, Arizona, is distinguished as the world's first food bank. Its core mission is to alleviate hunger by efficiently gathering and distributing food to hundreds of thousands of individuals and families across Arizona. Beyond immediate food provision, St. Mary's Food Bank is committed to fostering self-sufficiency through community education programs, advocating for effective hunger solutions, and collaborating with a vast network of partner agencies, dedicated volunteers, and generous donors to combat food insecurity and provide essential support to those facing hardship.

Where Is St. Mary's Food Bank's Headquarters?

St. Mary's Food Bank officeSt. Mary's Food Bank officeSt. Mary's Food Bank officeSt. Mary's Food Bank office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Serves as the main food receiving, sorting, packaging, and distribution hub; coordinates a large volunteer workforce; and houses key administrative offices supporting statewide operations.

Notable Features:

Extensive dry, refrigerated, and frozen warehouse storage; large-scale volunteer sorting and packing areas; multiple loading docks for efficient logistics; dedicated spaces for community programs and agency pick-ups.

Work Culture:

Deeply mission-driven and compassionate, fostering a collaborative environment that relies heavily on community engagement and a strong volunteer base. The culture emphasizes efficiency, respect, and dedication to serving those in need with dignity.

HQ Significance:

As the operational core of the world's first food bank and one of the largest in the United States, this headquarters is pivotal to the daily mission of feeding hundreds of thousands of Arizonans and upholding the legacy of innovation in hunger relief.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' design and operations reflect core values such as stewardship of resources, operational efficiency, community collaboration, innovation in service delivery, and a profound commitment to alleviating hunger.

Location:

St. Mary's Food Bank's direct operations are concentrated within the state of Arizona, where it serves as a critical lifeline in numerous counties, including Maricopa, Yavapai, Mohave, Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Gila, Pinal, and La Paz. While it holds the distinction of being the world's first food bank and its innovative model has inspired similar organizations globally, its programmatic and distribution efforts are focused on alleviating hunger within Arizona's diverse communities.

Street Address:

2831 N. 31st Avenue

City:

Phoenix

State/Province:

AZ

Country:

USA

Where Else Does St. Mary's Food Bank Operate Around the World?

Surprise, AZ/USA

Address: 13050 W. Elm Street, Surprise, AZ 85378

To extend St. Mary's Food Bank's reach and services to the rapidly growing communities in the West Valley, reducing travel barriers for clients and ensuring equitable access to food assistance.

Flagstaff, AZ/USA

Address: 2101 E. Huntington Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86004

To address food insecurity in nine of Arizona’s northern counties by tailoring services to the unique challenges of the region, such as remote communities and limited infrastructure, ensuring food reaches vulnerable populations.

Buying Intent Signals for St. Mary's Food Bank

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading St. Mary's Food Bank? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, St. Mary's Food Bank' leadership includes:

Milton "Milt" Liu - President and CEO
Lisa Notaro - Chief Development & Communications Officer
TJ Edmunds - Chief Operations Officer
Jerry Brown - Chief Programs Officer
Maria Cristina Ortiz - Chief People and Culture Officer
Sheila Leston - Chief Financial Officer

Who's Investing in St. Mary's Food Bank?

St. Mary's Food Bank has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Knight-Swift Transportation
Fry's Food Stores
Thunderbird Charities
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Feeding America (National Affiliation Partner)

What Leadership Changes Has St. Mary's Food Bank Seen Recently?

Hire1
Exits1

The most significant executive change at St. Mary's Food Bank in the last 12 months was the appointment of Milton 'Milt' Liu as the new President and CEO in May 2023, succeeding Tom Kertis who retired. The leadership team has otherwise maintained stability, focusing on the ongoing mission.

Departures

Tom Kertis, Tom Kertis retired from his role as President and CEO, concluding a long and impactful tenure at St. Mary's Food Bank.

New Appointments:

Milton "Milt" Liu, Milton "Milt" Liu assumed the role of President and CEO, tasked with leading the organization into its next chapter of fighting hunger in Arizona.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used bySt. Mary's Food Bank?

Discover the tools St. Mary's Food Bank uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

St. Mary's Food Bank Email Formats and Examples

St. Mary's Food Bank generally utilizes a common professional email format for its staff members, typically combining the first initial with the last name. For general inquiries, the organization provides specific departmental email addresses on its website, such as those for media, volunteering, or food drives.

[first_initial][last_name]@stmarysfoodbank.org

Format

mliu@stmarysfoodbank.org

Example

75%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About St. Mary's Food Bank?

AZFamily.com (3TV/CBS 5)December 5, 2023

St. Mary’s Food Bank struggles as need rises, donations fall

The report highlights the increasing demand for food assistance in Arizona, contrasted with a decline in donations, presenting significant challenges for St. Mary's Food Bank in meeting the heightened community needs, especially during the holiday season and beyond....more

12News (KPNX-TV)November 20, 2023

St. Mary's Food Bank expects to give out 2 million holiday meals

This article details St. Mary's Food Bank's ambitious efforts to provide two million holiday meals for families in need across Arizona during the Thanksgiving and Christmas period, showcasing their large-scale operational capacity and commitment to community support during critical times....more

St. Mary's Food Bank Website / PR NewswireMay 2, 2023

St. Mary’s Food Bank Announces Milton “Milt” Liu as New President & CEO

St. Mary's Food Bank officially announced the appointment of Milton 'Milt' Liu as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding retiring CEO Tom Kertis. Liu began his tenure in May 2023....more

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