Meet Joyce Foley: 37-Year Legacy of Food Bank Leadership and Service


Meet Chief Financial Officer Joyce Foley!

Joyce interview photo
Joyce Foley

What’s your role at Second Harvest Food Bank, and how long you’ve been with SHFB?

I’m the Chief Financial Officer at Second Harvest Food Bank, and I’ve been here for 37 years – can you believe it? I made my way up the ranks, starting as a helper to the CEO and working through various roles. It’s been quite a journey, and I’m planning on retiring in July. Not bad for a lifetime career!

Who is your hero and why?
President Jimmy Carter is my hero. He was just such an admirable, low-key, gracious person who had an incredible impact beyond his presidency. What amazes me is his deep call to service. After his presidency, he spent his lifetime promoting health and human dignity across the world. He’s the humanitarian action superhero we all should aspire to be.

What is the most valuable piece of advice that you’ve learned?
Here are three pieces of advice that have kept me going: First, remember that 98% of what you worry about never happens. Second, it’s only a plan – don’t sweat about trying to make everything match perfectly. And my favorite? Be nice to your future self. – Make good choices now and put in the extra effort that will affect outcomes later in your personal or business life.

What does Feeding OC mean to you?
‘Feeding’ and ‘OC’ to me are two small words that are a powerful call to action. It’s about informing people that there are neighbors out there who may need help and reminding us that we’re all part of a community that needs to support each other.

What do you love most about working at Second Harvest Food Bank?
The best part of working here is the energy I get from other coworkers and volunteers. We’re all working for a common purpose that isn’t about putting money in a company’s pocket but about giving back to the community. I enjoy coming to work, you can hear a lot of laughter coming from my office.

What does nutritional security mean to you?
Nutritional security means we’ve elevated what we’re trying to do. It’s not just about quantity anymore – it’s about quality. We want to ensure that anybody who needs food can access high-quality, healthy options that will help them lead healthy lives, without any barriers.

What has been your favorite memory from working at Second Harvest Food Bank?
Oh, our move to this new warehouse in 2007 was something else! Our old building was falling apart – literally. During the move, we had torrential rain coming through huge holes in the ceiling, soaking all our packed boxes. But when we got here? It was like heaven. Employees were so happy. It was just such a boost for everybody’s morale.

How can the community support Second Harvest Food Bank?
Volunteer, donate, and spread the word. We can’t do all this ourselves – we need to multiply the number of hands helping. As they say, many hands lighten the load.

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