What Can Social Impact Entrepreneurs Learn from Food Banks?

Here are 5 lessons that impact-minded entrepreneurs can learn from a leader who runs a food bank.

Running a food bank (or pantry) is a challenging endeavor. It requires a strong commitment to doing good, a strong sense of social justice, as well as the ability to manage a volunteer organization. Though making profit and running a charity may be perceived as different goals, they both need passion, building strong teams and being able to demonstrate your impact.

Here are 5 lessons that impact-minded entrepreneurs can learn from a leader who runs a food bank.

Let’s ask Jennifer Liggett. She has served as the Executive Director at the Covington Storehouse since September 2022. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Director for the Covington Chamber of Commerce, an executive Assistant to a multi office Therapy Group and as a YMCA Director. During the pandemic, as a volunteer, Jennifer saw the families needing food grow exponentially. The Storehouse was serving 135+ families and that grew to 500+ families. That was a roughly 400 percent increase in clients and food shortages during the pandemic. 

Have a clear mission and vision.

One of the most important things to remember when running a food bank is that it is not all about those running it. It is about the people you are trying to help. Keeping the focus on the mission of the charity and the impact you are making on the lives of others. “As a child that relied on the food bank for nourishment it was my calling to give back and make sure my community is fed” Liggett shares. 

Build a strong team.

In all of her leadership roles, Liggett learned about building relationships with local businesses, food bank partners, government officials, and potential donors. People are at the heart of any social impact endeavor. It’s all about how each volunteer quickly demonstrates their passion for social impact and builds trust with others. “At the Storehouse, we have built a culture that is respectful. Our volunteers have built a culture of trust. This helps us connect to our community and also other food banks in the region” Liggett says. 

Measure your impact.

The Covington Storehouse regularly gathers client, donor and volunteer testimonials and shares them on their website and social media. The website puts the spotlight on the families benefiting from the work, the team and the Board serving the bank. It shares their impact visually and helps donors connect.  “We share stories. When they read about our community impact and how it positively cares for others. The testimonials make a big difference and people tend to 'give more' because of our donor campaigns through Harness Giving” she informs. 

Market your impact effectively.

Often changemakers focus on the day-to-day operations, however do not forget to share your impact with others. Your social impact acts as a multiplier for others. “We revamped the website, added videos about the work we do and testimonials from our clients. By showcasing our social impact, with measurable impact, we could begin requesting larger grants. We received more, and higher value donations from community members to help us sustain our increase in clients we serve.” Liggett says. 

Be prepared to work hard.

Leaders need to face tough challenges as the external environment changes. During the pandemic, the Storehouse team had to be super- focussed on serving diverse families in the region. The whiplash effects of the supply chain were hard to manage. They needed proper refrigeration units to store food. In fact, there is still a lingering shortage of produce. “In just 3 months under my leadership we were able to turn The shopping model from a drive up to an In-Store grocery shopping model. This allows our community members to shop with DIGNITY! They are able to access the types of food they prefer for their culture, needs and family size.”  The Storehouse also works hard to make sure no food goes to waste. They have partnered with local farms who take in the leftover food for feeding their livestock. 

Interested in Helping Storehouse?

The Storehouse teams are working on securing funding for produce for their clients. They would appreciate assistance with HVAC and new cooling units for our food ie: Fridge/Freezer. They are also preparing for their Holiday Gift Card assistance program and any donation to that specific campaign would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to donate via the link. 

We at Impactika Consulting help do-gooders do better through purpose-propelled® consulting. We are a digital marketing, strategy, and social impact consulting firm. We help for-purpose organizations take on the world’s toughest challenges in digital rights, social and economic justice, education, and more. 

As an advocate for both business and doing good, Impactika is a women-led team committed to helping organizations around the world find impactful and meaningful ways to market their purposes and connect with others.