A Big Thank You to Las Patronas!

If you’ve haven’t been to the +BOX warehouse lately, you missed some big changes! Las Patronas selected +BOX as a Fall 2024 Beneficiary, and during the last few months, we’ve been purchasing some new equipment.

Our expanded walk-in cooler - now with 3 full height 8-ft shelves!

As our program has expanded over the years, the lack of storage and tight space of our walk-in cooler have become limitations on our work. Through the generous partnership of Las Patronas, we have effectively doubled the space of our walk-in, as we now have 3 full-sized shelves to hold our most precious and delicate produce (typically coming from local farms like Hukama Produce and Coastal Roots Farm).

Additionally, we purchased a new storage rack and lift stacker that allows us to store our items like beans, rice, and lentils from the Smart Food Foundation or boxes from Ernest Packaging off of the ground, enabling us to take on more rescued produce from ProduceGood and Feeding San Diego.

Daniel Floyd showing his favorite new tool - the lift stacker.

Finally, we were also able to upgrade our tape machines from manual ones to electric ones! This final upgrade is helping reduce waste as the perfect strips of tape come out at the press of a button!

The fun and fancy tape machine - now with electricity and less-jams!

All of these changes have made for some exciting changes around our warehouse and we can’t wait for you to see it! Check out our website for upcoming volunteer opportunities to pack some produce and see the updates in person. 

A full cooler means full boxes - bringing nutrition to each family that takes a +BOX home.

Thank you again, Las Patronas!

More about Las Patronas:

A TRADITION OF GIVING

Las Patronas is a philanthropic organization with a long history of giving. Since its inception in 1946, Las Patronas has donated nearly $27 million to more than a thousand charitable institutions in San Diego County. The funds distributed to these organizations are generated through yearlong fundraising efforts and the annual presentation of the Jewel Ball, one of San Diego’s most enduring social, cultural, and philanthropic traditions.

Las Patronas is highly respected for its fiduciary responsibility to its donors and its careful stewardship of each contribution it receives. The Las Patronas grant process involves a thorough evaluation of each organization that applies for funding, including the review of its mission, operations, and capital needs. All qualified grant applicants are visited onsite and interviewed by a team of Las Patronas members. Grant requests are then reviewed by the entire membership to prioritize funding for the most critically needed capital items. This process ensures that Las Patronas grants are distributed to nonprofit organizations whose mission and reach will have the greatest impact on the citizens within our community.

All funds raised by Las Patronas stay in San Diego County and are distributed to many small nonprofits as well as larger, more visible organizations. By giving to Las Patronas, you can diversify your philanthropic giving – reaching children and seniors, the homeless and the disabled, emergency response teams and the military, as well as supporting scientific research, health services, the environment, and cultural arts – in a broad

geographical range throughout San Diego.

In partnership with its nonprofit beneficiaries and the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Las Patronas contributes meaningful assistance to our local community, touching countless lives and making San Diego a better place for everyone.