Global FoodBanking Network Visit April 2019

Community Harvest Food Bank meets many partners in the fight against hunger, but perhaps one of our most exciting visits is when we host a representative from the Global FoodBanking Network. Gaby Rno, part of the Field Team, visited Community Harvest to glean information about our programs and practices in order to share information and resources with other food banks across the world. Currently, GFN works in 30 countries in the world, and Community Harvest Food Bank is one of many food banks that they visit and interact with.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Gaby and hearing in her own words what it is like to do what she does, what kind of things are being done worldwide to alleviate hunger, and what has been her experience visiting Fort Wayne, Indiana?

CHFB: So, what has been your experience here?

Gaby: : It’s been a remarkable experience really – probably in the first 90 minutes I understood why my supervisor wanted me to come to Fort Wayne.  I mean, we see good banking all over the world but it’s always eye-opening to see a team with so much passion and having such a culture of the mission. I’ve been with Global Food Banking Network for 3 years. I’ve been able to see food banking on several different continents. I work with my team in different areas as far as programming, and with the President & CEO and the Board of Directors.

CHFB:  So when you get the info you need from the food banks, how does that help you with your mission – when you’re in the field – how does that help with your mission and what your organizational goals are?

Gaby: : I think we’re able to deliver better technical assistance, better support in their capacity building, have a targeted approach, every single time. And listening to the food banks needs is really crucial for GFN, because then we’re able to leverage our resources and our expertise in food banking, and of course, bring in our friends at food banks like CHFB and help them with that peer-to-peer network.

CHFB: Can you tell us a little bit about GFB Network -its history and how it got started?

Gaby: GFBN was founded in 2006. It was founded by Bob Forney who was the CEO of America’s Second Harvest, and later at Feeding America. Bob Forney passed away some years ago and we would like to think we honor Bob’s dream of food banking globally. There have been dozens of success stories across the globe. It’s been transformative for those food banks and now it’s really us going out into the field and helping with this technical support with the peer sharing and helping them increase their capacities in the communities they’re working in.

CHFB: So, what has been one of your favorite experiences here, out of the things you’ve done so far?

Gaby: I’d say the prize goes to the Community Cupboard. It was really phenomenal to spend some time with the staff there – with Hicham and Greg. They really have six days a week of connection with your beneficiaries and it’s so wonderful to see them managing and running a very efficient process – and at the same time have such a human touch to all of the beneficiaries. We’re serving the dignity of everyone and making them feel excited about the food they’re going to bring home, and the interactions that they had.

CHFB: Would you like to add anything else about your trip?

Gaby: I hope I can bring back some of these great ideas and this point of reference for the essence of food banking. I have a lot to digest now, and I really don’t know if there was some foreshadowing for me at the CHFB but really, every single person I’ve talked to and every program I’ve seen here is tied back to the community and it’s just right-on. The name is really what you guys stand for and I’m glad there’s so much community investment in the food bank. Because without them, obviously it wouldn’t be what it is today.