Get to know Long, Food Outreach Nutrition Services Manager

On a typical weekday, you can find Long Le checking inventory or ordering produce in Food Outreach’s Nutrition Center. Long joined Food Outreach in 2024 as the Nutrition Services Manager, bringing a strong background in inventory management that made him an ideal candidate for the position.

“Essentially, I just make sure the Nutrition Center runs smoothly. We need to have all the shelf-stable items and produce available so that everything is set and ready for volunteers to fulfill our clients’ orders. I’m also always ready to jump in and help with restocking.”

Long had previously worked with Food Outreach’s Director of Operations, Joel Carter, at Swiss American, a cheese and specialty foods manufacturer.

“I first heard about Food Outreach from Joel. He was my supervisor at Swiss American. He knew that this position would involve a lot of inventory management, and I had extensive experience in that area. I knew my skill set would be applicable, but I was also drawn to the mission. As I learned more about Food Outreach, I felt I would be fulfilled on multiple levels by contributing to its work.”

Along with the mission, working with Food Outreach’s volunteers and staff is another benefit of the job that Long enjoys.

“I appreciate all the extra help the volunteers provide. It’s always nice to see different faces, and it’s a joy to come into the Nutrition Center. Everybody here is kind and motivated to fulfill the mission. And at the end of the day, it’s rewarding to know that I’m making a positive impact on people’s lives.”

However, his job is not without challenges. One of the most difficult aspects is balancing inventory management while ensuring client food orders are fulfilled. Food Outreach’s commitment to client choice—allowing clients to select their food options from a large menu—makes inventory levels unpredictable from week to week, adding complexity to Long’s role.

“The most challenging part is dealing with product availability. One week, we might be able to get canned chicken, and the next, our supplier won’t have any in stock. So we might have to swap to canned turkey or a different size of canned chicken to adjust the menu accordingly. Also, some weeks, our clients really like red beans, and other weeks, not so much. There’s a lot of fluctuation in that sense too.”

At the end of a busy day, Long likes to relax with movies, video games, and music. A native of St. Louis, he enjoys horror, fantasy, action, and thriller films. He is currently listening to the new Lady Gaga album.