Maricopa County will invest $500,000 to support food insecure communities in the county, according to a news release posted on the county's website.
The county Board of Supervisors voted in favor of investing money in the Arizona Food Bank Network during its formal meeting on January 10th.
The approved funding is in addition to the $3 million Maricopa County has already invested in Arizona food banks to combat food insecurity in the county. In 2021, feed america 9.2% (400,830 people) of Maricopa County residents are classified as food insecure, meaning they lack access or resources to obtain enough high-quality food to live a healthy life. means that
AFBN food banks, including St. Mary's Food Bank, Southern Arizona Community Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank, United Food Bank and Desert Mission Food Bank, serve nearly 700,000 households, according to a news release. It said it had provided more than £11.4 million. What was your meal like last year?
An additional $500,000 will continue to support food insecure communities through AFBN through the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2024. The funding is part of Maricopa County's federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) budget, which provides “donations of nonperishable food, fresh produce, federal groceries, and grocery items to both food-insecure people and government agencies. used for distributing fresh food. It plays a vital role in serving food insecure people across the county,” according to a news release.
Board Chairman Jack Sellers, who represents District 1, explained why the county needs this funding.
“Rising inflation is making it difficult for families in Maricopa County to afford basic necessities like food, housing, and gasoline,” Sellers said. “While there is still work to do to reduce rising costs, our continued collaboration with the Arizona Food Bank Network is a meaningful way to provide food to families struggling to make ends meet.”
This investment is in addition to the more than $399,000 approved by the Board in December for Community Services Block Grant funds for the cities of Avondale, Chandler, Surprise, Tempe, and Tolleson, subject to income requirements. The goal is to provide housing and nutritional assistance to individuals who meet the criteria. families within those communities.
