In early November, to offset the impact of the suspension of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the city of Phoenix partnered with St. Mary’s Food Bank in launching a citywide food drive to ensure residents have access to nutritious meals.
While the government has returned to business, and SNAP benefits have resumed, many families and individuals continue to face increased food insecurity. A webpage launched in November, www.phoenix.gov/hungerrelief, details how residents can give monetary donations or food items to help neighbors in need.
The city said that monetary donations are strongly encouraged – food banks can stretch the donation through bulk purchasing, tax exemptions and dollar matches from the community. Just one dollar can provide an estimated 10 meals for a food bank. Monetary donations can be made to St. Mary’s online: https://fundraise.stmarysfoodbank.org/campaign/742144/donate.
Residents who may qualify for SNAP can visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security website, www.des.az.gov, to apply for, manage and stay informed about benefits.
For those who need food assistance right away, several organizations in the Phoenix area provide emergency food boxes and hot meals. Residents can visit www.phoenix.gov/foodhelp for locations where they can receive food boxes and resources or dial 2-1-1 from any phone to access pre-recorded information in both English and Spanish about emergency assistance and other resources.
In addition, the Arizona Food Bank Network provides a statewide directory of food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other organizations that distribute emergency food. Use the network’s “Find a Food Bank” tool to locate a nearby agency. Before visiting, verify hours of operation and eligibility requirements – details can change.
To learn more, visit https://azfoodbanks.org/get-food.
