Pictured by row — “Melrose Pharmacy celebrates 20 years” (On the Cover); “Adaptive Tutti Choir welcomes all abilities” (On the Cover) |
“Bakery takes cakes to new heights (see Food for Thought); Pet of the Month – “Beautiful Buddy loves adventure” (see Community/Pets); “Sip the season at festive events” (see Food for Thought) |
“Organization connects students with the arts” (see School Days); “Men’s boutique creates curated experience” (see Taking Care of Business)
Hello, North Central neighbors!
It is incredible to me that 2025 is coming to a close – what a topsy-turvy year it has been! Next year likely holds plenty of challenges, but right now I want to pause for a moment of gratitude.
We are, of course, grateful to you, our readers, and our advertisers, who sustain us. But on my mind right now are the communities that stepped up in November to make sure that those in need had food on the table.
The city of Phoenix launched a new food resource/donation webpage amidst the 43-day federal government shutdown – specifically to offset the impacts of the SNAP program suspension (see Community). It is gratifying to see city leadership step up to assist residents, but it was the individuals who gave me hope for the future. Local businesses made donations and held food drives; neighbors created little food libraries and front-yard food pantries – communities came together to help one another.
Sadly, food insecurity did not end when SNAP benefits resumed. As we wrote in October, one in five kids in Arizona doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from; one in seven families is classified as food insecure. Those numbers have seen a steady increase in recent years. During this time of giving, if you have extra, I encourage you to consider a monetary donation to your local food bank – St. Mary’s is a good place to start.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our December issue, and until next year, all my best,
Kathryn M. Miller
Editor, North Central News
kathryn@northcentralnews.net
