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Meet Pam DiPietro of Foothills Food Bank

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam DiPietro.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Foothills Food Bank was created in 1988 in Cave Creek, AZ. I joined the Food Bank in January of 2002.

Previously I had been Business Manager for our Parish in Deerfield, Illinois for 20 years. Prior to that, I had been busy raising our five children. I was a stay at home Mom until our youngest was in 6th grade.

My husband and I just recently celebrated our 54 year anniversary. It is the second marriage for both of us. We have a Yours, Mine and Ours Family. We have three daughters and two sons, and we adopted each other’s children.

We retired to Cave Creek, Arizona in December of 1998. I was busy decorating a home until November of 2001 when I decided I needed more. I found the job at the Foothills Food Bank. It was a part-time position. I officially began work in January of 2002.

At that time, the Food Bank saw about 35 to 40 families in a month. Mostly Hispanic, who were working as Day Workers in the area.

Today, we see over 600 Families in a month and in 2017, we opened a satellite location in Black Canyon City.

When I started in 2002, we were “housed” in a 400 sq. ft. office space. Today, we own our 7,000 sq. ft. space in Cave Creek and are mortgage free. We rent 4,000 sq. ft. space in Black Canyon City.

The founding Members of the Food Bank, in 1988 had the foresight to not only offer food but to provide financial assistance to those in need. A “Client” could receive up to $400 to help pay for utilities or rent or medical bills or car repairs. Today, they still only receive $400 due to the number of people we now serve.

Our funding comes solely from individual donors and some grants. The donations continue to grow each year, but not enough to increase the dollar amount we can help with.

Over the years, we have become a full-service organization. We work at providing the right resources for people to not only fight hunger but to give them hope in moving forward. Food is our primary concern for the Client. But, we have a staff person that helps Clients to apply for SNAP and AHCCCS. We provide vouchers for a local thrift store, gas station and pharmacy for those in need. We work with a Veterinary Clinic and an Animal Shelter to provide shots for Clients dogs and cats and also spay and neutering.

We have a Snack Pack Program that provides food for school children on the weekends. We work with Caring Corps (helping people that are homebound) to bring food to those that need it within their program. We have a food supplement program called Care Club.

We partner with St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, three St. Vincent De Paul Conferences within our service area, the Salvation Army, Arizona Association of Food Banks, Alliance of Arizona Non- Profits, Carefree Kiwanis, American Legion Local #34, and many more organizations.

Our service area is about 180 miles square and goes north to Black Canyon City, west to I-17, south to Pinnacle Peak Road and east to Rio Verde. In Cave Creek, we are open 5 days a week from 9-3 and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. In Black Canyon City we are open on Tuesday and Thursday from 9-3. We have over 400 volunteers that help to make all of this work. We also are an Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Organization.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our progress has been slow and steady. I just wait for God to help make it happen. He gave me the ability and knowledge to see what was needed and to make it come to fruition. But in his time, not mine.

Please tell us about Foothills Food Bank.
I love people. Have always in my 79 years of existence. It began on my first day in kindergarten and I helped a little boy that was crying because he was frightened. I remember my mother wanting to say goodbye and I looked up from my new found friend and simply said goodbye and went back to comfort him.

Through the years I have always come to the aid of those in need. No matter what the need. I didn’t plan it, it just happened instinctively.

I have the gift of gab and talk endlessly about those things I love, my husband, my children, my grandchildren and especially the Food Bank.

I always try to keep the happy, positive feeling I have inside. My glass is always half full.

I think what sets me apart is the ability to always smile and make people feel better about themselves.

I guess you could say I specialize in raising money. That is one of the important parts of being the Executive Director

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing! I look back on what I have done and what I have accomplished and I am happy with the direction my life has taken. Perhaps because I have had a lot of years to think about it. I have no regrets.

Perhaps one thing – I would not have married at 18 and divorced at 23. But then, I would not have my two wonderful daughters from that marriage.

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Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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