About Us overview

The Tree of New America (TONA) is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of food access, sustainability, and care. TONA serves as a facilitation partner to a coalition of permanent and temporary supportive housing communities, regional food pantries, and food recovery partners—helping ensure that nutritious food reaches people facing transportation and access barriers.

TONA’s evolution has been shaped by close collaboration with food pantry partners, including Mary’s Kitchen Pantry in Anaheim, California, where the organization’s founders first met while volunteering. Through this work, they identified gaps in food access within supportive housing communities and recognized the need for a coordinated, relationship-centered approach to food sustainability.

In response, TONA developed a facilitation model focused on sourcing surplus food and organizing Mobile-PopUp food pantries and community TableTop-PopUp cooking events tailored to the needs of each housing community. This approach emphasizes reliability, dignity, and presence—recognizing nutrition as a critical foundation for mental and physical well-being.

About Us strategic development

Tree of New America welcomed Cristina Quiles as its first strategic recruit and authorized financial signer. As we move toward appointing her as Director and Chief Financial Officer, Cristina will serve as Controller and play a key role in strengthening financial stewardship and helping guide organizational strategy alongside President Jessica Becerra & Founding Father Harold 'Hal' Arscott.

Cristina Quiles

Cristina Quiles is a seasoned finance leader with more than 25 years of experience in accounting and financial management across Fortune 100/500 companies and Big Four accounting firms. She currently serves as Director of FP&A at Foundation Building Materials, a Lowe’s subsidiary, where she leads enterprise-wide financial planning and analysis. Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Boston University and an MBA from Babson College. 

About Us the founders

TONA was founded by founding father Harold K. Arscott, and co-founders Jessica Becerra, Melissa Locke, and Eric Wilder, who came together through shared volunteer service and a commitment to addressing food insecurity in ways that center care and community partnership. Each founding member brings lived experience, professional insight, and a shared belief that food access is most effective when rooted in trust and collaboration.

About Us a brief history

October–December 2024TONA’s founders began supporting partner food pantries and housing communities through targeted outreach, coordination, and capacity-building efforts. Early work focused on strengthening partnerships, refining messaging, and building the foundation for a scalable facilitation model.
January 2025Recognizing the need for sustainability beyond volunteer-driven efforts, TONA initiated its transition toward formal nonprofit status to support long-term partnerships, funding, and program replication.
February 2025TONA deepened relationships with permanent and temporary supportive housing providers and food recovery partners, refining logistics and volunteer coordination to support consistent food delivery.
March 2025–PresentTONA received its nonprofit designation and launched pilot programs in partnership with supportive housing and sober living communities, formalizing MOUs and expanding its role as a food sustainability facilitator.