By Chiara Coddington
Elizabeth McCarthy, CFBNJ’s current President & CEO, says that the FoodBank found her.
Elizabeth started working in nonprofits in the late 1990s. Before coming to CFBNJ, Elizabeth served for 11 years as the CEO of Sheltering Arms in New York City, a multi-service nonprofit that addressed the effects of social inequity.
“The multi-service aspect of CFBNJ’s work is what was appealing to me about the FoodBank because it’s not just about food. It’s all the other things that help find the root causes of hunger,” she said.
One of the things that Elizabeth loves about her job is that she doesn’t have a typical workday. Among many other things, she attends ribbon cuttings, goes to interviews and meetings, and works with all the FoodBank’s stakeholders and staff to find out what’s going well, what they need help with, and what they can do differently.
“I have met Kathleen several times but unfortunately never had the opportunity to work with her.” Elizabeth said. “Kathleen is such an inspiration for me, and I have heard such incredible stories about her. On a recent visit to the FoodBank, Kathleen was received by so many people who knew her and were excited to see her. It was very special to see just how beloved she is.”
Following Kathleen’s example, Elizabeth feels that the connection with staff is what really matters.
“It’s been a great year working as a CEO for the FoodBank ,” Elizabeth said. “I really enjoy it, and the FoodBank has an amazing team of people who I have met and talked with. Some of the work I have done is similar to what I’ve done in the past, but things like logistics, trucks, and warehouses, are new for me. I have learned a lot about that area, and it’s nice because I have learned a tremendous number of new things.”
Elizabeth chooses three words to describe the FoodBank: mission-driven, dedicated, and generous.
“Although the FoodBank has kept me busy, I felt like coming back to New Jersey from New York was like coming back to my roots,” Elizabeth said. “The many relationships I have formed with people inside or outside of the FoodBank and being proud of their accomplishments is a great feeling for me.”
Elizabeth talked about her childhood and how she was very fortunate to have had a good head start. She recalls that her mom, who ran a house with six children, was very interested in social justice causes. She remembers one instance when her family protested in a grocery store that was selling food produced by migrant farmers who were not treated well. Her mom told her that those farmers, who dedicated their lives to growing and picking food for others, were not even able to feed their own families.
Today, she continues that advocacy in her work with the FoodBank.
“It’s a very important thing to think about how the work you do puts a meal on someone’s table,” she said. “Whether I’m attending meetings or solving administrative problems, it is always a good reminder that the work I am doing is helping others. I always try to acknowledge that everyone here helps put food onto people’s tables, including the truck drivers, including the warehouse workers. And without them, the FoodBank would be nothing. I think that it’s really the team effort aspect that is a good thing.”