Our guiding mission at Flagstaff Family Food Center is Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, Every Day. It’s fueled by the passionate people here who often are behind the scenes. Today I wanted to introduce you to a handful of them. These are just a few of the dedicated leaders within our organization who have dedicated their expertise and time. They ensure that we continue to meet the needs of those experiencing food insecurity throughout northern Arizona.
Eric Boatner, Board of Directors
Eric, one of our dedicated leaders, joined the FFFC board in October of 2021. A resident of Flagstaff for the past 30 years, he wanted to give back by volunteering with an organization that has a big impact.
“Food is an essential need for everyone, and during difficult financial times, the Flagstaff Family Food Center is there to assist, 365 days per year, no questions asked, show up and get a meal,” he said, in addition to providing food to dozens of other nonprofits in the area, such as Flagstaff Shelter Services, Northland Family Help Center, and Flagstaff Freedom House.
Eric and his wife, Lisa, operate an Allstate insurance office in Flagstaff. He is proud that the Allstate Foundation has donated more than $45,000 to FFFC in the past five years.
As a member of the Board, Eric said he has seen FFFC move from reacting to the immediate need. This includes planning for the future and addressing the root causes of hunger with collaborative events. Such as the 2nd Northern Arizona Anti-Hunger Summit, which will happen in September.
Eric had lots of praise for the volunteers and staff of FFFC. “It’s truly neighbors feeding neighbors; we are fortunate to live in such a great community,” he said.
On a personal note, I am extremely thankful for Eric, as he’s not only challenged me to strive for excellence, but also has created a safe space for me to freely share my thoughts and unwind. As a new CEO, I’m discovering that there are many who demand excellence and metrics to show progress, and rightfully so. However, having someone like Eric, who will grab me by the shoulder and say, “Forget about the to-do list and go be with your family,” means the world to me and is a rare find.
Adriana Salas, Development Director
A recent addition to FFFC, Adriana joined us earlier this year. She was drawn to FFFC because of her previous experience working in food banks and FFFC’s commitment to food equity. (You can read our inaugural Food Equity report here).
Adriana’s position focuses primarily on fundraising, donor relations, and building community partnerships that support FFFC’s mission.
“My days often include meeting with donors, writing grant proposals, coordinating campaigns, and strategizing ways to engage the community in our work,” she said.
Adriana says that the most rewarding part of her job so far is seeing the impact FFFC has on the community. She also enjoys the relationships she is building with the FFFC team and the individuals and families we serve.
“I hope to see FFFC grow its capacity to serve more people while fostering deeper community connections,” she said. “Expanding programs, increasing sustainable funding, and advocating for long-term food security solutions are all part of that vision.”
Luke Lasiloo, Senior Warehouse Manager
A part of the FFFC team since 2022, Luke joined us after extensive experience in grocery retail and logistics.
“I feel my position really brings those two together,” he said. “It was a bit of an adjustment coming from retail to the non-profit sector, but it’s been fun!”
Part of what keeps his job so engaging, he said, is that every day is fast-paced – and sometimes unpredictable. Describing a typical day is difficult, because every day is different.
“While my team is building produce bags alongside our volunteers, I’m usually unloading trucks, building kitchen orders, transporting orders, or getting through my paperwork,” he said. “I love that everyday is different, it makes time fly by so fast!”
There’s been a lot of changes, recently, he noted. This includes both a dramatic increase in the demand for hot meals, sack lunches, and food boxes, as well as extensive renovations to the warehouse and kitchen to meet the increased demand.
“We are doing what we can to help out the community,” he said. “While I’m behind the scenes, it’s awesome getting food where it needs to be.”
It’s been my pleasure to introduce you to some of the dedicated leaders behind FFFC. They work every day to fulfill our mission and provide nourishing food to all who need it here in northern Arizona. As always, we sincerely appreciate your support.
With gratitude,
Ethan Amos
President & CEO
Flagstaff Family Food Center
Final Weeks of Feeding Futures Campaign!
The Feeding Futures Campaign is changing how we are meeting our mission of Neighbors Serving Neighbors Every Day.
Check out what our dedicated leaders have to say about “creating a community where no one has to worry where their next meal is coming from.”
Your donation will help us complete improvements to our warehouse and expand our kitchen. It helps us provide more hot meals, more sack lunches, and more food boxes to those experiencing food insecurity in northern Arizona.
We’re close to our $1.5 million goal, but need your help to finish strong. Every donation makes a difference, and all contributions qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.
‘Stuff the Bus’ Returns Nov. 8th & 9th
We are proud to partner with Mountain Line, the City of Flagstaff, and Coconino County for our 10th annual Stuff the Bus food drive on November 8 and 9, 2025.
Resilience on the Rim
The Grand Canyon food pantry was founded during the last major shutdown in 2018–2019, and supports hundreds of households each week.
Our First Neighbor – George McCullough
The very first neighbor who embodied our mission of Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, Every Day was the man who started FFFC almost 35 years ago, George McCullough.
