Q: What’s the best way for people to help feed the homeless?

A: Make a connection with a food pantry and find a way to donate nutritious food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always appreciated. Canned beans are always great to have around. Rice, dried grains, canned tomatoes and jarred salsa are also good to have. I have issues with the fact that the first thing I see in most food pantries are overstarched, oversugared things. Homeless people need nutritious food as much as anyone, even more.

Q: What do you eat to stay healthy?

A: A lot of salads, like one with carrots from the farm, radishes, organic greens, blue cheese, spiced pecans and pepitas [pumpkin seeds]—with bacon on the side.

Mary Ellen Diaz encourages students of all ages to get involved with feeding the world.

Q: How do you find balance in your life between work and family?

A: What’s neat is that I can bring my kids to anything we do at First Slice; they love what I do and they love to come with me. The people get a kick out of them, and vice versa. My daughter mentioned to me this morning that when it’s her birthday, she is going to have a party and ask people to bring her a toy that she can donate to kids in need. How great is that?