“Everything we dreamed about has taken place. That was the dream: to have space to expand, to increase what we were doing, not decrease.”

FINDING HER PLACE, BUILDING A FUTURE: BEDZAIDA SANTANA’S IMPACT ON FBSJ

In 1987, Bedzaida Santana arrived at the Food Bank of South Jersey as a VISTA volunteer, unsure of what lay ahead, but quickly found more than just a job. “It stole my heart,” she recalls. “The people I met were so amazing, and what they were doing was extraordinary.”

By 1988, she had officially joined the staff, beginning in customer service in what she describes as “a cubicle, a box that was our office.” From those modest beginnings, Bedzaida worked her way through the organization, eventually becoming Executive Director in 1996.

Her leadership came at a time of both need and transformation. The Food Bank’s original warehouse was no longer secure – frequent break-ins, including individuals entering through the roof, jeopardized the safety of food supplies and staff. Bedzaida knew a bold move was necessary.

With no prior experience running a capital campaign, she leaned on the strength of the Food Bank’s partners and community. “We didn’t have a choice,” she says. “But I knew the people around me could do it – and they did.” The campaign brought in nearly $3 million, with key support from Acme Markets, Campbell’s Soup Company, Comcast, and Lockheed Martin. With their help, the Food Bank moved to its current Pennsauken facility – a space designed not only for the present but with room to grow.

“Everything we dreamed about has taken place,” Bedzaida reflects. “That was the dream: to have space to expand, to increase what we were doing, not decrease.”

Now, as the Food Bank of South Jersey marks its 40th anniversary, that dream continues to grow. In June, the Food Bank will unveil its new Center for Health, Wellness & Nutrition, located directly across the street from the Pennsauken warehouse Bedzaida helped bring to life. The new facility will offer nutrition education, cooking classes, and direct food distribution, continuing the Food Bank’s mission in innovative, people-centered ways.

Though she stepped away in 2004, Bedzaida’s legacy lives on. From growing the agency network to planting the seeds of children’s feeding initiatives, her leadership helped shape the Food Bank’s future.

Her story is a powerful reminder that lasting change often begins with one person’s decision to show up, listen, and lead with heart.