Photo of Maria Thomas, CEO, inside Community Food Bank of San Benito County

Maria Lynn Thomas, CEO, Community FoodBank

A Letter from the Board of Directors

On behalf of Community FoodBank’s Board of Directors, I want to sincerely give thanks to Maria Lynn Thomas for guiding the food bank for the last 5 + years. Words cannot express our appreciation for spearheading the new way of thinking and bringing the vision of Maria, staff and the Board of Directors to life.

Under Maria’s leadership, the food bank was able to purchase the existing building, renovate it and turn it into the masterpiece it is today. Rather than handing a bag of food to people, the food bank strived to give residents their dignity and allow them to shop for themselves. This has had a positive effect on people when they shop as they are able to shop for what they need.

Under Maria’s leadership, the food bank has gone from a place that didn’t know if the doors would stay open to having a 3 month cash reserve for operating expenses. Maria also kick-started a new innovative project that will allow for fresh produce and shelf-stable food to be delivered to neighborhoods. The Mobile Pantry will be a new way for residents to receive their food.

The Board of Directors has begun a search for the next Executive Director/CEO and we are working closely with Maria and the staff to ensure a smooth transition for her June departure. We appreciate and welcome your support as we take these next steps.

Please join me, and the entire Board of Directors, in thanking Maria for her many contributions, connections made and innovative ideas that are all present at Community FoodBank. As always, we wish Maria the best and we know that wherever Maria goes, they will be very pleased with her as both a person and as a professional.

Keith Schwehr,
Community FoodBank, Board Chair

Press Release: San Benito’s Community FoodBank CEO Announces Departure (PDF)