Half A Million Invested For Food Banks

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA – With Arizona food banks experiencing a spike in demand, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey today announced a $500,000 grant from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund for Arizona food banks to help fight hunger.

Member organizations that are part of the Association of Arizona Food Banks/Arizona Food Bank, which is receiving the grant, supply a network of nearly 1,000 food pantries and organizations in all 15 counties in Arizona, some of which have experienced a demand up to five times greater than usual due to COVID-19.

According to a press release, the Association of Arizona Food Banks/Arizona Food Bank Network comprises five regional food banks.

These are St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Desert Mission Food Bank, United Food Bank, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Yuma Community Food Bank

The food banks will use the funding to address the spike in demand, including meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities and acquiring more packaging materials to deliver food.

Also securing additional storage space; implementing further adaptations to promote physical distancing among clients; coordinating convenient drive-through food pick-ups; and more.  

The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund was established by Governor Ducey as part of the Arizona Together Initiative to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations serving Arizonans in need. 

The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has collected more than $8.2 million to date. In April, the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation donated $5 million to support the purchase of PPE including 1.1 million N-95 masks.

Additional grant announcements will be made as disbursements are finalized.  Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund can learn more about how to contribute at ArizonaTogether.org.

Full bulletin posted here.