When you donate financially to FoodBank Lakeside, where does your money go? Who spends it? On what? Our new “Who’s in Charge?” feature spotlights those responsible for ensuring your money is spent wisely. Today, we feature an expert who helps with all FoodBank functions.

Name & official title?

Jeff Hirota. I am on the Leadership Team serving as the Director-at-Large. 

Where do you live?

Central Ajijic.

How long have you volunteered with FoodBank Lakeside?

I began early this year. I have worked with U.S. anti-hunger organizations in both food provision and policy.  

What are your FoodBank duties?

I co-lead strategic planning for FoodBank Lakeside. This process involves the leaders of the key functions – Administration, Finance, Fundraising, Marketing, Operations, Partnerships, and Volunteer Management – and others who comprise the Leadership Team. Together, the team sets the strategic and functional priorities.  

I also help raise funds and thank those who financially support FoodBank Lakeside. This organization can’t exist or continue without its donors. 

Some agencies may be able to cut services or expenses with less money. Without necessary funds, FoodBank Lakeside would need to cut food to the most vulnerable people in our community.

It’s important to understand every person at FoodBank Lakeside is a volunteer and plays an important part. There is no single person “in charge.” From Local Coordinators who distribute food in their own communities to the volunteers who prepare hot meals for children, FoodBank Lakeside is many people who work as one.   

Why do you volunteer?

Even when we can stave off hunger, basic and sustaining food is essential to everyday life. For example, the most important period of childhood development is from birth to age five. If a child is malnourished during that time, he or she will never see that critical time of development again. 

There are villages within a 45-minute drive of the Lakeside community with some the highest rates of chronic kidney disease in the world. Malnourished people there need basic nutrition to fight the disease. Throughout our community, elderly and disabled people are at risk of going hungry.

There are many worthwhile causes to support with my limited time and financial resources, but few that are literally a matter of life or death.