River City Food Bank: Cut HR Workload by 50% While Freeing Leadership to Focus on Mission and Growth
At a Glance
The Challenge
Rapid organizational growth stretched River City Food Bank’s internal HR capacity, increasing administrative burden and compliance risk while pulling leadership away from mission-critical work.
The Solution
HRtoGO partnered with RCFB as an embedded HR resource, implementing foundational HR systems, managing compliance and payroll, and providing ongoing advisory support to leadership.
The Outcome
RCFB reduced its internal HR workload by more than 50%, freed leadership time for strategic and mission-focused initiatives, and established a compliant, people-centered HR foundation built to scale.
The Challenge
As River City Food Bank (RCFB) experienced significant growth, expanding its team from 12 to 16 staff and doubling its annual budget to over $2 million, Executive Director Amanda McCarthy saw an opportunity to elevate the organization’s internal operations to match its expanding mission. Serving more than 30,000 people each month, the team needed systems and support that could scale with its impact.
While longtime operations lead Paula Jenkins had successfully overseen both accounting and HR functions for years, she and Amanda recognized that continuing to manage HR through informal processes and institutional knowledge would no longer serve the organization’s evolving needs. They wanted to move beyond ad-hoc solutions and ensure that their people operations reflected the same level of care and professionalism as their programs.
As Amanda put it: “We needed to grow professionally, not just programmatically. Without the right HR support, we risked compliance issues and lost sight of our culture-building priorities.”
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Our Solution
HRtoGO began as a compliance-focused partner and quickly evolved into an embedded strategic resource. The team worked side-by-side with RCFB leadership to implement foundational HR systems, reduce leadership’s administrative burden, and shift the organization from reactive compliance to proactive people operations.
Key areas of support included:
- Development of a formal Employee Handbook
- Creation of required Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and Workplace Violence Prevention plans
- Benefits administration and direct support of employees’ benefits related questions
- Job description templates, recruiting workflows, and file management structures
- Ongoing support for sensitive HR topics, documentation, and communication
A team of HRtoGO experts also collaborated directly with RCFB’s five-person management team, hosting quarterly leadership meetings and delivering tailored training sessions based on real-time team needs.
Outcomes
Partnering with HRtoGO enabled River City Food Bank to transform its HR function from improvised and reactive into a structured, compliant, and people-centered operation. With expert HR guidance embedded into day-to-day decision-making, RCFB strengthened internal operations, improved the employee experience, and freed leadership to focus more fully on its mission.
50%+ Reduction in HR Workload
Standardized systems for job postings, employee files, and compliance documentation significantly reduced Paula’s administrative HR burden, cutting time spent on HR tasks by more than half.
Leadership Time Freed Up
Amanda and Paula no longer spend hours researching employment laws or second-guessing HR decisions. With HRtoGO as a trusted advisor, they receive timely, accurate guidance and can move forward with confidence.
Increased Internal Capacity and Strategic Focus
With reactive HR demands removed, Paula has expanded her role to lead staff retreats and culture-building initiatives, shifting focus from day-to-day HR firefighting to long-term organizational effectiveness
Improved Compliance and Risk Confidence
RCFB now operates with clear documentation, secure employee records, and expert support for sensitive employee relations matters, reducing risk and increasing confidence in HR decisions.
Greater Peace of Mind and Mission Focus
RCFB now operates with clear documentation, secure employee records, and expert support for sensitive employee relations matters, reducing risk and increasing confidence in HR decisions.
Key Success Factors
Flexible, Scalable Support Aligned with Organizational Growth
The partnership grew over time, from compliance to payroll to benefits, as RCFB’s needs evolved. HRtoGO’s adaptability ensured the right level of support at every stage.
Expert Guidance That Protects People and the Organization
From policy questions to tough employee conversations, RCFB views HRtoGO as a trusted “armor”, providing professional, legally sound direction while preserving internal relationships.
Seamless Integration as an Extension of the Team
HRtoGO is viewed as an extension of RCFB’s internal team rather than an external vendor. They work directly with department leaders, deliver practical training, and maintain a consistent presence that makes HR systems approachable, supportive, and easy to adopt.
Summary
By partnering with HRtoGO, River City Food Bank established a strong, sustainable HR foundation that protects its people, ensures compliance, and supports ongoing growth, all while preserving the culture at the heart of its mission. What began as a compliance-focused engagement evolved into a long-term, strategic partnership that continues to adapt as the organization grows.
As Paula puts it: “HRtoGO is the bow on the package. We had the foundation, but they brought polish, professionalism, and protection.”
HR Headaches? We’ve got you.
With HRtoGO, you save time, reduce risk, and gain confidence in every HR decision.
Stress-free HR starts here – Talk with an expert now!
"*" indicates required fields