The average food price has skyrocketed due to corona virus pandemic and recent events. The FAO Food Price Index has saw a fresh record high of nearly 160 points.
A shocking 60% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on Arizona Free Clinics, Arizona Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objectives is to help low-income individual and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. Its stored in a big climate controlled warehouse.
- 3. Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches to who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona and food pantries are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, but many food banks have none. Just show up during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are the tips while .
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank was the first one established in California in 1972 and is the second oldest in the US. It operates multiple distribution centers across the United States.
Impact of Second Harvest Food Bank is huge, It helps 85,000 Santa Cruz residents avoid missing meals and empty stomachs.
Second Harvest Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona is easing the burden of impossible choices for families between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities.
St. Mary's Food Bank
The St. Mary's Food Bank was a first local food bank ever established in the United States in 1967. The St. Mary's Food Bank mission is food security and hunger relief for all Americans.
The St. Mary's distributes millions of pounds of food to the hungry each year, It also operates its own food pantries to allow allow people to access food directly from their warehouses.
It also offer specialized after-school programs for kids and career training for adults.
Church Food Bank Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona
Church Food Bank Food Bank in Pinal County, Arizona serve a hot, nutritious lunch 365 days a year, even in the face of terrible weather and ever-increasing demand.
Church Food Bank welcome anyone who is in need of a meal, regardless of the person's circumstance, with no questions asked. It also provide showers, laundry, mail, I.D. assistance and other essential services.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
The Coronavirus epidemic put even more pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America has helped serve 6.6 billion meals to date.
The Feeding America have grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
United Food Bank
The co-op program allows clients to purchase pre-assembled food bags containing 15 to 20 pounds of different meat and produce for $20. As available, Help Yourself clients can also make selections from a variety of complimentary items like breads and pastries, dairy and deli products. The program offers a great opportunity for anyone who’d like to make the most of their food budgets; weekly or monthly. There are no qualifying requirements or limits so it open to the public.
Help Yourself is held every Friday from 8 am to 12 pm at the Javelina Vounteer Annex. You must wear shoes in the warehouse for safety reasons.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (480) 926-4897 to book your appointment.
Address :
358 E Javelina Ave,
Mesa, AZ 85210.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Maricopa
- Pinal
Apache Junction Food Bank
We are an emergency food service and can provide short term assistance to families in need who live within our service area and meet the eligibility requirements. If you meet the requirements we can provide you with three to five days of food.
Clients are eligible for assistance once every calendar month.
Documents Required:
- Valid Identification showing your name and address
- Proof of residence (utility bill or rent receipt)
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (480) 983-2995 to book your appointment.
Address :
575 N Idaho Rd,
Apache Junction, AZ 85119.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Apache Junction
- Arizona City
- Bapchule
- Casa Grande
- Coolidge
- Eloy
- Florence
- Gold Canyon
- Mesa
Valley View Community Food Bank
Valley View Community offers a safe and positive environment where those seeking help can easily find the resources they need to find themselves and their families.
Valley View Community Food Bank distributes nutritious food directly to people in our communities that are on fixed incomes and limited resources. We provide emergency boxes of nutritious food at no cost to those in need and there’s no qualifying required. If you are in need of food all we ask is that you bring a valid ID and birth certificates for any children.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (623) 933-3358 to book your appointment.
Address :
9849 N 105th Ave,
Sun City, AZ 85351.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Maricopa
- Pinal
ICM Food & Clothing Bank
We provide an immediate response to basic needs.
Basic needs includes:
- A food box
- A change of clothes and shoes
- Shampoo, soap, and other toiletries
- SNAP (food stamp) sign-up
- Baby formula and diapers
- Nutrition bags for small children
Once a month we hold a free medical clinic to provide basic medical services at no cost.
To qualify must have:
- Photo ID
- Proof of residence (e.g. a piece of mail from the last 6 months with name and address)
1st visit must have:
- Identification for all members of the family
Returning customers:
- Identification for head of household
- Proof of residence
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call to book your appointment.
Address :
501 S 9th Ave,
Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Sat: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Maricopa
- Pinal
GCUMC Food Bank
The GCUMC Food Bank has been providing non-perishable foods as well as frozen meat, bread, pastries, fresh fruit, and vegetables to those in need in the community for more than 17 years. Each family receives 1-2 bags of groceries depending on the size of their family, and all client information is kept confidential. The Food Bank is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to noon.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (480) 982-3776 to book your appointment.
Address :
6640 S Kings Ranch Rd,
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Gold Canyon
Help Residents of Counties:
- Pinal
Christ the Victor Food Bank
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2nd & 4th Saturday of the month)
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (520) 723-4220 to book your appointment.
Address :
6173 E Arizona Farms Rd,
Florence, AZ 85132.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Florence
Help Residents of Counties:
- Pinal
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally run program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP program is also known as Food Stamp.
SNAP benefits in Pinal County supplied approximately 40 million Americans in 2018. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In 2017, roughly 9.2% of American households obtained SNAP benefits, with about 16.7% of all children living in homes benefiting.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food Bank?
Specifically, Pinal County food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for Pinal County food bank assistance?
To qualify for food bank assistance you must provide:
- Current state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of all household members
- Current electric bill to prove residence
- Bank Statement for income verification