Why are you nominating this person for the Hunger Fighter Award? How have they made it easier for San Diegans to access food assistance?

• Luz Arizmendi Mendoza is a tireless advocate for the needs of San Diego County residents in the fight against food insecurity for all our neighbors. Her efforts to build and continuously develop the Client Choice Pantry at the San Diego Food Bank North County over the past 3+ years have been a constant work in progress. She strives to increase San Diegans access to food assistance by collecting the data and advocating for the expansion of the Pantry at the SDFB-NC. The data showed the frequency usage, number of households served, newly enrolled households, how much EFAP assistance, and other supplies were distributed over time. It also showed the need had grown beyond the initial capacity of the Pantry at SDFB-NC. Leadership there was able to expand the physical layout of the Pantry, and increase SDFB staffing, and adjust the hours of service to better meet the demands of the community at large. This has enabled more households circumvent some of the obstacles to visit the Pantry; work hours, scheduling conflicts, lack of transportation.
  

  Luz has also developed a core team of Dedicated Pantry Volunteers, and recognizes their efforts to make the pantry a positive, successful place that our neighbors in need can visit and not feel any shame. Volunteers that consistently and reliably give up 3 or more hours per day to keep the Pantry fully stocked with all available food items, assist and orient clients with check-in and return appointment setting, to the data collection and entry of newly enrolled households into the Oasis system. As one of Luz's Dedicated Pantry Volunteers, I keep coming back week after week because Luz showed me the needs of our community, and that it takes a lot of work to keep the Pantry moving forward. Because Luz works so hard, she encourages me, and my fellow Dedicated Pantry Volunteer peers to work hard alongside her, to serve those in need.
  

  Beyond the Pantry, Luz makes sure there is an information center that is stocked with flyers about other locations in the local community and for the entire county where clients can get additional food resources, health assistance, pet pantry assistance, job assistance. Luz also created a Community Space where San Diego County, or state program representatives could set up an information table to make Pantry clients aware of further resources that may be available to them such as CalFresh. The Pantry also became a distribution point for CSFP Senior Food Box Program. As a portion of those clients using the Pantry were already enrolled into the CSFP Program, they were now able to come and do a one stop visit and acquire their monthly CSFP food box, one of their bi-monthly Pantry visits for their EFAP food. This reduced the need for these clients to go to a CSFP distribution elsewhere. Luz continuously demonstrates attention the community’s needs, and will constantly and consistently think of ways to improve how the SDFB Pantry can deliver for them.

• She is constantly trying to provide clients with individualized attention and dignity. She always has a smile to welcome them. When I first started, shopping carts were not allowed to leave the building. Luz soon realized that it was a hardship for many clients to try to pack up their food in separate bags and then carry it to the car. She advocated for allowing clients to take the carts to their cars, unload groceries and then return the carts. This has been extremely helpful and is still the policy of the Food Bank.

• I am nominating Luz Arizmendi Mendoza for this award in recognition of her extraordinary dedication to expanding food access and dignity for families in our county. Luz has been the driving force behind one of the first Client Choice Pantries in San Diego County, a model she helped launch, grow, and refine by drawing inspiration from successful programs across the country. Unlike traditional food distributions, Luz’s pantry empowers clients to select the items their families need, transforming the experience from one of passive receipt to active choice. Through her leadership and partnerships with the San Diego Food Bank, she has enriched the pantry’s offerings with fresh produce, dairy, and proteins, elevating the nutritional value and respect given to each visitor. Luz has also streamlined access to food assistance by introducing multilingual applications and training volunteers to use translation tools, ensuring that language is never a barrier to support. Her collaboration with civic, healthcare, and community organizations has turned the pantry into a trusted hub for resources, including CalFresh enrollment, CFAP pickups for seniors, and even books for children through local library partnerships. As Pantry Supervisor, Luz leads with warmth and humility always ready to lend a hand, greet clients with a smile, and inspire volunteers with purpose. Under her guidance, the pantry has grown from serving 60 families a day to becoming a vital lifeline for thousands. Her impact is felt not just in the food distributed, but in the dignity restored. Longtime clients often ask for Luz by name, eager to thank the woman who made their experience not just easier but kinder, in one day.

• Luz is a dedicated advocate for food security and respectful access to resources. As the supervisor of the client-choice pantry, she plays a vital role in ensuring that thousands of individuals and families each month can access nutritious food in a manner that honors their preferences and cultural needs. Her approach emphasizes more than just distribution; she fosters a welcoming environment where clients feel empowered to make their own choices.

  Her impact extends far beyond the pantry itself. Luz has been instrumental in integrating wraparound services on-site, connecting clients with essential resources such as housing support, employment help, healthcare, and more. Her community-driven approach is focused on helping individuals and families achieve long-term stability and independence.

  Luz truly embodies what it means to be a Hunger Fighter, not only by providing food but by uplifting those she serves. Her compassion, innovation, and unwavering dedication make her an outstanding asset to the community and a highly deserving nominee for this award.

• Luz is an incredible advocate for fighting hunger in north county. She supervises the client choice pantry, which feeds 4,000 families monthly. She works tirelessly to ensure each family is well taken care of, respected, and understood. She’s a true gem in our community and her creativity and compassion for the food banks clients shows in her work every day.

• As the Supervisor of our Client Choice Pantry, Luz ensures that thousands of individuals and families have access to nutritious food each month, while also respecting their preferences and cultural needs. She emphasizes her commitment to treating every client with dignity and respect.

  Luz understands that while all the individuals who come through our doors may be experiencing food insecurity, their situations can vary greatly. She works diligently to ensure that all clients' needs are met, and she and her team strive to provide the best possible assistance to everyone. Being a North County native, Luz takes pride in serving the community she calls home.

  I have had the pleasure of managing Luz for the past three years, and it has been truly rewarding to see her grow into the leader she is today. She leads by example, and her compassion and dedication to helping those in need are inspiring qualities that should be emulated throughout our organization and the broader food assistance community.

  Luz exemplifies what it means to be a Hunger Fighter every day. Yes, she ensures that thousands of households have access to food, but more importantly, she is innovative in her approach to serving our neighbors. She demonstrates compassion for each individual's situation and understands that treating people with dignity is paramount.

• Luz turns the San Diego Food Bank's Client Choice Pantry into a place where dignity, choice, and practical help meet. She leads with a calm, service-first approach that makes the experience simple and welcoming, especially for neighbors walking in for the first time. Under her leadership, the pantry offers culturally familiar, nutritious options and a trauma-informed, "glad you're here" intake that reduces stigma and speeds up support.

  What truly sets Luz apart is how she steers excellence at scale. The pantry is now serving 33% more visits than last year and moving 77% more pounds of food, yet the tone on the floor remains warm, organized, and respectful. Luz invests in training, clear communication, team support, and volunteer empowerment so the guest experience stays strong even as demand surges. She notices friction points, fixes them, and equips the team to sustain high-quality service day after day.

  Luz also connects food access to long-term stability. She has woven "wrap around" resource navigation into the pantry flow, ensuring that a visit for groceries can also open doors to housing, employment, healthcare, and more. Her people-centered leadership means neighbors leave not only with food in hand, but with next steps in mind.

  In short: Luz removes barriers, expands options, and keeps the team grounded in compassion while meeting far greater need. That combination of operational excellence and human warmth is exactly what a Hunger Fighter looks like.

• Since the opening of the North County Food bank pantry, Luz has played a key role in implementing changes that have improved access to food assistance for the clients. With her help, the food pantry has expanded in size, allowing the North Food Bank to serve more individuals and families in need. Saturday hours were introduced to accommodate those who are unable to visit during the week. Additionally, Luz facilitated a to-go cart system to servce clients who do not have appointments, making sure no one is turned away without help. Her dedication to removing barriers and increasing access has made a meanfull difference in the community.

• Luz is a tireless advocate for food security and dignity in access. As the Supervisor for our client-choice pantry, she ensures that thousands of individuals and families each month have access to nutritious food in a way that respects their preferences and cultural needs. Her approach goes beyond simply distributing food, she creates a welcoming environment where clients feel empowered to make choices for themselves.

  But Luz's impact doesn't stop at the pantry door. She has worked diligently to bring wraparound services on-site, connecting clients with critical resources such as housing support, employment assistance, healthcare, and more. Her commitment to community driven support helps individuals and families move toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

  Luz exemplifies what it means to be a Hunger Fighter, not just by feeding people, but by uplifting them. Her compassion, innovation, and relentless dedication make her an invaluable asset to our community and a truly deserving nominee for this award.

Please share 1 of their major accomplishments in the last year, in their efforts to creating a Hunger Free San Diego.

• Luz has increased the number of volunteer positions needed each Pantry shift to improve the level of service to all Pantry clients. This was a response to the increase in demand for service from the Pantry.  More volunteers were needed, the hours were adjusted to include Saturday morning service hours in addition to the full weekday schedule.  In October, Luz created two new volunteer shifts, designated to allow more experienced Pantry volunteers to be leaders in the delivery of enhanced customer service. The knowledge and experience of the veteran Pantry volunteers allow them to impart and share their knowledge of using Oasis and procedures related to Pantry visits, enabling Luz and other SDFB staff to focus on some of the core operational duties of the Pantry and not be called away for more minor issues. This trickle down of experience builds a wider, stronger volunteer pool that keep the Pantry running with knowledgeable, capable people. These actions combined have contributed to the Pantry having a positive impact on more households than if none of these actions were implemented.

• Luz has recently established a FEED/Ambassador program to work with more seasoned volunteers.   She has created two new positions:  Intake Specialist and Oasis Specialist.  The Intake Specialist works directly with new clients to help them complete the registration form, verifies whether they may be eligible  for additional programs and provides them a welcome packet.   They also provide the new client with a tour of the pantry and how to shop in the store.  The goal is to ensure that clients are informed of the services available with the frequency that clients may shop.

• One of Luz’s most impactful accomplishments this past year has been her transformative redesign of the client intake and distribution process, an initiative that has significantly advanced the mission of a Hunger Free San Diego. Recognizing the need to serve more families while reducing wait times and crowding, Luz talked to volunteers and clients about what was important to the experience, what was working, and what could be improved. She reimagined the pantry’s physical and operational flow. She converted an unused storage area into a dedicated “to-go” zone for walk-in clients, streamlining service for those without appointments. Simultaneously, she established a separate check-in process for scheduled clients, reducing bottlenecks and improving the overall experience. To support this new system, Luz expanded the volunteer structure by introducing specialized check-in roles and increasing the number of volunteers per shift. She also created lead volunteer positions focused on new client registrations and managing the CFAP program, including troubleshooting the database, freeing up floor managers to focus on broader operational needs. These innovations have yielded remarkable results: the pantry now serves an average of 230 families per day, with a record-breaking day of over 370 families. Luz’s leadership has not only increased capacity but also preserved dignity and efficiency for every client served. Her work exemplifies how thoughtful systems design can drive both compassion and impact.

• Over the past year, Luz has successfully expanded the hours of our pantry to include Saturdays, aiming to improve access for individuals facing food insecurity who are balancing work and family responsibilities during the week. Her deep understanding of the community and awareness of service gaps have motivated her to continually evaluate needs and develop solutions to overcome the barriers many encounter when trying to access food.

• Luz saw a massive need for families that work multiple jobs so she expanded the hours the pantry is open during the day and even added a 6th day of operation weekly. In the past year since she began as supervisor she doubled the amount of clients we see in the pantry. She is such an inspiration in our community and she deserves to be recognized.

• Recently, Luz implemented our FEED Ambassador program at the Client Choice Pantry. This program allows us to identify additional resources our clients may need, explain our processes, and ensure that they feel confident receiving assistance from us. Luz has provided more in-depth training for our volunteers, enabling us to adopt this new approach. This one-on-one interaction has been crucial in improving our relationships with our clients and enhancing program efficiency. Even with the increasing number of clients who visit us daily, we continue to prioritize treating each client with dignity and respect through this new program.

• Luz launched and operationalized the pantry’s wraparound resource hub, transforming some food visits into a step toward stability. Working with community partners she built a smooth, convenient process so neighbors can quickly connect to services while they’re already on site.
  
  What’s now available at the Client Choice Pantry:
  On-site partner access: San Diego County’s LiveWell bus and the Goodwill Mobile Employment Center, bringing benefits navigation and job services directly to our neighbors.
  
  Resource takeaways: Easy-to-scan flyers and referrals for Humanity Showers, San Diego PACE, Family Health Centers, Humane Society information, and rotating public library events.
  
  Family literacy support: A partnership with the Carlsbad Library to distribute free, age-appropriate books, helping families build home libraries while they shop for food.
  
  Luz intentionally designed these touchpoints to fit the pantry rhythm, no extra lines, no extra stigma, just timely help in the moments when people are most ready to receive it. The result: faster, friendlier access to critical services, better follow-through, and a stronger bridge from short-term relief to long-term stability.

• One of her most significant accomplishments that I have seen in the last year is she brought in additional community resources to the Food Bank to further assistant the clients.

• This past year Luz has expanded the hours of our pantry to include Saturdays in an effort enhance access for individuals that face food insecurity while still working and caring for families during the week. Her knowledge of the community and the gaps in service has driven her to continually assess the needs and find solutions to the barriers that many people face in accessing food. Because of the expansion of hours we are able to serve additional families every month in North County.