South Bay Food Pantry: Relocation Plans

By Nancy Fisk
Excerpted and adapted from First Words
May 2025

The South Bay Food Pantry is relocating this summer to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista, coinciding with the end of its current mall lease. This move, overseen by coordinator Deirdre Lonergan with assistance from Jan Garbosky, Rhea Kuhlman, and Corina Macias, will significantly alter food distribution.

Currently, volunteers pre-bag groceries, but the new system will feature tables where clients can select their own items, fostering independence and reducing waste. This change necessitates more Saturday volunteers for setup and distribution. Saturday shifts will also start later, between 9:30 am and 10:30 am, to minimize neighborhood disruption. The previous COVID-responsive pre-bagging model will be replaced, and clients may be asked to bring their own bags, promoting sustainability.

A major innovation is Deirdre's development of an online ticketing system. This digital solution will replace the current paper tickets, allowing the 500-600 families served weekly to make a single trip to the pantry, streamlining the process and improving convenience.
The pantry fosters a strong sense of community among volunteers and clients, including monthly potlucks to strengthen bonds.

The relocation offers several advantages: the pantry had outgrown its previous space, and the lower rent at St. John's means more funds can be allocated directly to food and less to overhead. Looking ahead, a sustainable plan is needed to ensure the pantry's long-term ability to serve hundreds of families weekly.

To volunteer at the pantry, please email Corina Macia ([email protected]) or call the pantry phone line at 619-271-5017.

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