Press Kit

Today, one in four Californians face food insecurity on a daily basis. And yet, there is plenty of food available to feed us all.

We’re working for a California where children arrive to school nourished and ready to learn, families can meet their basic needs, and all people are equipped to build lives of dignity. We:

> Provide food to those who need it through our network of member food banks
> Amplify access to CalFresh, our state’s food stamp program
> Build bridges from fields to food banks by supporting a sustainable agricultural system
> Improve the social safety net by working for better public policy

We believe having enough to eat is a basic human right, and that ending hunger in our state is both essential and possible.

Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO

A seasoned leader in the grocery industry, Stacia Hill Levenfeld’s passion for nourishing communities has always extended beyond the four walls of the store. In addition to her extensive experience supporting food retail operations and supply chain management, a driving force in her career has been partnering with local food banks to help provide food security in communities across the country. 

Most recently, Stacia was the Executive Director of Public Affairs for The Save Mart Companies. She had responsibility for legislative affairs, consumer relations, community giving, media relations and corporate communication. In addition, she led the social impact committee, emergency response team and developed high visibility cause marketing programs. Previously in her career, Stacia spent ten years with Albertsons, working her way up to Vice President of Public Affairs; and has worked with Kaiser Permanente, the UN World Food Programme and several regional grocery chains.

Stacia is actively involved in her community, recently serving on The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation board of directors, executive committee of  Opportunity Stanislaus and completing nine years on the Town of Moraga Planning Commission. Her board positions also include the California Grocers Association, Habitot Children’s Museum and Women in Community Service. 

Stacia holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s in Public Relations from Biola University. She lives in the East Bay with her husband and three children.

Short Bio:

Stacia Hill Levenfeld joins CAFB as its Chief Executive Officer, bringing with her an extensive career leading public affairs, communications, emergency response and charitable giving in the grocery industry. Most recently the Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs for The Save Mart Companies, Stacia spent the majority of her career at Albertsons, eventually serving as their Vice President of Public Affairs. Over the past 20 years, she has provided strategic communications counsel to several regional grocery chains, Kaiser Permanente and the United Nations World Food Programme. Stacia serves on the board of The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation. A Bay Area native, she holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California and an B.A. of Public Relations from Biola University. She lives in Moraga with her husband and three kids.

Other Staff:

See our Team page here.

“We are talking about 10 million hungry Californians.”

“This is truly unprecedented. If we think about the [2008] Great Recession as breaking the barriers to what we thought was possible, now we are looking at something that is literally off the charts to what we saw.”
“Food banks are experiencing double to even triple demand. To put that in perspective, that means we are talking about 10 million hungry Californians.”

Andrew Cheyne, Director of Government Affairs, 12/2/20, KCBX

“Food banks found themselves responding to an unprecedented demand for emergency food.”

“With schools shuttered, layoffs rippling through our communities, and the entire state coming to a standstill, food banks found themselves responding to an unprecedented demand for emergency food. All the while, they were fielding cancellation of volunteers, rearranging their warehouses to meet social distancing protocols, updating their cleaning protocols, and standing up new distributions.”

Lauren Lathan Reid, Director of Communications, 9/16/20, SF Chronicle

“There haven’t been a lot of volunteers because of COVID-19.”

“I will say that the California Guard has been undeniably very valuable. There haven’t been a lot of volunteers because of COVID-19. The National Guard really stepped up and is doing a great job.”

Lauren Lathan Reid, Director of Communications, 6/16/20, US Air Force

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