Josh Weston’s involvement with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey began with a simple but life-changing encounter.
“I first heard of this lady named Kathleen DiChiara, who was driving around in her station wagon picking up food to give to people in need,” Josh recalled.
It was the late 1970s, and he hadn’t yet met Kathleen, but her mission intrigued him.
“She was the most unusual lady,” he said. “The hardest thing for anyone to do is to start something new, something that has never existed before. Kathleen was the one who broke the ice, who made this possible.”
Soon after, Kathleen invited Josh to visit the FoodBank, and he was inspired by her vision to create a hunger-free New Jersey.
“When I joined the board, I didn’t just get involved – I got very involved,” he shared, laughing at the understatement. From that point on, he would support CFBNJ in every way possible, lending his strategic planning skills and business expertise to help expand its reach and impact.
Josh’s work at CFBNJ centered around building a sustainable organization.
“I was on the strategic planning committee,” he explained. “We had to identify future priorities and make plans to reach them. If anything was good, we needed to make it great.”
His approach was methodical and practical, always focused on maximizing the FoodBank’s effectiveness.
“Some people might call it expertise,” he joked. “Others would say I was a consistent pain in the neck!”
Throughout his time on the board, Josh and Kathleen developed a strong personal connection. His wife, Judy, became close friends with Kathleen, and the two families shared many memorable experiences.
“We would sometimes meet socially, and Judy and Kathleen would spend hours talking on the phone,” Josh recalled.
He admired Kathleen’s relentless dedication and practical approach, especially when CFBNJ expanded its operations: “Without any engineering training, Kathleen instinctively knew how to run the warehouse, managing forklifts, racks, and distribution systems to keep things moving.”
One of Josh’s favorite memories is a time when Kathleen’s resourcefulness secured the resources CFBNJ needed.
“Kathleen once told me she needed a vertical farm to produce fresh food for people in need,” Josh said, still amazed by her ambition. “And sure enough, she got it done, partnering with local farms and even creating connections internationally to bring innovative solutions to New Jersey.”
Looking back, Josh considers CFBNJ an essential part of New Jersey’s fabric and a testament to Kathleen’s legacy.
“She brought people together for a common cause, and she built an organization that treats hunger as a solvable problem, not just a temporary fix.”
Today, CFBNJ stands as a beacon of hope in the state, thanks to leaders like Josh Weston who continue to champion its work. For Josh, it’s more than just philanthropy, it’s a life’s mission shaped by his friendship with Kathleen and his belief that no one should go hungry.