SARASOTA, FL – As All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) continues to evolve to meet community needs, its professional team endeavors to do the same to support the work of the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. To further strengthen AFFB’s operations – which involve ordering, storing, sorting, transporting and distributing food for more than 80,000 people each year – senior leader Bill Haley, who was hired as the organization’s chief logistics and supply chain officer (CLO) in late 2023, has transitioned to the role of chief operating officer (COO).

As COO, Haley will continue to be responsible for providing strategic leadership, vision and guidance for the operations department – developing, evaluating and improving the organization’s current initiatives and projected growth. His daily duties encompass inventory/supply chain, logistics, facilities, fleet safety, quality control, data analytics and project management. Haley has also served as an integral part of AFFB’s risk management and disaster response efforts, the latter of which was particularly crucial last year as our state suffered direct hits from three major hurricanes.

Haley’s former position as CLO was created as part of the implementation of the organization’s new five-year strategic plan, which was announced in early 2023. One critical aspect of the strategic plan envisioned “a reimagined supply chain that holistically integrates the preferences and nutritional needs of our neighbors.” Haley’s new role as COO will bolster the implementation of that vision.

During his tenure at AFFB so far, Haley has achieved the following:

• The reorganization and expansion of the capacity of the existing warehouse through reworking logistics processes and the identification of a new technology platform;
• Forming and/or strengthening relationships and collaborations in the community with other emergency responders, such as the American Red Cross;
• Strengthening relationships with local retail partners, such as Publix and Walmart;
• Expanding AFFB’s fleet of trucks, increasing the organization’s ability to expand delivery to partners and agencies, All Faiths Food Bank’s DeSoto Food and Resource Center, and its own mobile distributions;
• Determining and implementing innovative ways to reach more neighbors by storing and distributing food closer and more conveniently to where they live;
• Mentoring staff to facilitate the expansion of their roles as well as creating new measurements to ensure accountability and encourage innovation; and
• Constantly evaluating and assessing the foods AFFB purchases and receives from donors to continue to add more healthy options, such as fruits and vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and perishables to its inventory

In 2024, AFFB distributed 20.4 million meals – in addition to more than 40,000 MREs (meals, ready-to-eat) in response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton – and held an average of 725 food distributions each month, alongside hundreds of community partners. This requires extensive planning and coordination – from ordering and storing food in the organization’s warehouse, to sorting and packing, to scheduling deliveries using AFFB’s fleet of more than 25 vehicles, which travel more than 200,000 miles a year.

"While numerous essential resources and efforts contribute to a food bank’s mission, none of it would be possible without a meticulous and strategic leader seamlessly coordinating every aspect of our operations,” said AFFB’s President and CEO Nelle S. Miller. “During Bill’s time with All Faiths Food Bank, he has shown the ability to innovate to meet the conditions on the ground in our communities. We look forward to continuing those efforts to serve our community as effectively, efficiently and compassionately as possible.”

To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.

About All Faiths Food Bank
All Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, providing millions of meals each year in collaboration with more than 300 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to end hunger today, but also strives to end hunger – forever – by helping families and individuals gain long-term food security, enjoy better health outcomes, and achieve self-sufficiency. All Faiths is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and is a partner of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.