IMPACT OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE - IMPACT CONTINUES TO SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE TUCSON BASIN: PRIMARILY NW TUCSON, MARANA, ORO VALLEY, CATALINA, AND SE PINAL COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN THE COPPER CORRIDOR. WE ALSO SERVE ANY SOUTHERN AZ CLIENT REFERRED TO US THROUGH ANOTHER TUCSON NON- PROFIT, LOCAL AGENCY, OR AREA CASE WORKER. THROUGH OUR AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNTIED AND COMMUNITY FOOD BANKS, WE SERVE ANYONE WHO QUALIFIES FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION FROM SEVEN COUNTIES: PIMA, PINAL, COCHISE, GILA, GRAHAM, GREENLEE AND SANTA CRUZ. WE ALSO SERVE PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH OUR AREA WHO MIGHT COME FROM OTHER REGIONS IN AZ OR ARE TRAVELING THROUGH TO OTHER STATES, AND NEED FOOD ALONG THEIR JOURNEY. THE PEOPLE WE SERVE LIVE IN AREAS WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY RURAL, AND ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN THESE AREAS CONTINUED TO GROW THIS PAST YEAR DUE TO INCREASED ECONOMIC PRESSURES AND OFTEN BECAUSE OF MEDICAL SETBACKS THAT EFFECT THEIR AVAILABLE INCOME. MUCH OF THE GROWTH SEEMED TO BE IN OUR PINAL CLIENTELE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE COPPER CORRIDOR REGION IS LOSING MANY STANDARD RESOURCES. THERE ARE NO LONGER BASIC FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORES. RESIDENTS RELY ON GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORES AND DOLLAR GENERALS. HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS IS MINIMAL. OUR SERVICE NUMBERS CONTINUED TO GROW AND WE EXPECT A TO SEE CONSISTENT GROWTH IN COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE FUTURE, AS MORE PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT IMPACT OF SOAZ. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, OUR FOOD BANK SERVED 4574 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS (UP FROM 3842 LAST FY). THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM 1596 UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS (244 MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR) OF DIVERSE AGES, RACE AND ETHNICITY. PEOPLE IN PIMA COUNTY REPORT TO US THEY DRIVE UP TO CATALINA FROM ALL OVER TUCSON EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE CLOSER TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION WAS BETTER AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS FAR SUPERIOR, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAY WE TREAT ALL OUR CLIENTS, WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THIS YEAR, THE VALUE OF FOOD WE PROVIDED WAS NEARLY 1.8MM. FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AS WELL AS MEATS AND DAIRY TO SUPPLEMENT OUR SHELF STABLE DISTRIBUTION HELP OUR CLIENTS LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES THROUGH BETTER NUTRITION AND REDUCED STRESS. ON AVERAGE WE DISTRIBUTE 50,000 POUNDS OF FOOD EACH MONTH. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR IMPACT FOOD BAG OF PANTRY ITEMS THAT FIT THE USDA RECOMMENDED ITEMS, THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS. ALL INBOUND DONATION ITEMS ARE WEIGHED, SORTED, LOGGED INTO A DATABASE FOR RECORD KEEPING, CHECKED FOR FOOD SAFETY AND PROPERLY STORED. THE AVERAGE DEMAND HAS US SERVING ABOUT 800 FAMILIES EACH MONTH, WITH NEW PIMA AND PINAL RESIDENTS ENROLLING REGULARLY. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS OF MANY AREA GROCERY STORES SUCH AS FRY'S, SAFEWAY, TARGET, WALMART, WHOLE FOODS, TRADER JOES, BASHAS', AND OF MANY SMALL BUSINESSES BAKERIES AND CHAINS. THEY ALL PROVIDED US WITH FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, EGGS, MEAT, AND OTHER PERISHABLE FOODS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL PRICING WHEN WE HAVE TO BUY BULK. A LARGE CORPS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS PICKS UP FROM MARKETS EVERY DAY, INCLUDING SATURDAY TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE INVENTORY NEEDED TO FEED OUR GROWING ENROLLMENT. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WHICH ALLOW US TO PROVIDE A ROBUST DISTRIBUTION. WE BEGAN AN EXCITING NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH UA BIOSPHERE 2 WHO IS NOW GROWING HEADS OF LETTUCE, KALE, SPINACH AND OTHER LEAFY GREENS IN A CONVERTED OCEAN CARGO CONTAINER, WITH VERY LITTLE WATER USE AND NO PESTICIDES; AND DELIVERING TUBS OF THIS PRODUCE ALMOST WEEKLY. IT TASTES AMAZING, AND ALL THE CLIENTS LOVE BEING THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS COLLABORATION. OUR FOOD BANK, IN A MODULAR BUILDING ON OUR SITE, INCLUDES A LARGE SHOPPING AREA TO ALLOW CLIENTS TO SELF-SELECT MANY OF THEIR FOOD ITEMS. WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO OPEN THIS PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CLIENTS. IT IS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE SPACE FOR OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE GIVEN IT RAVE REVIEWS; AND WE HAVE HAD ARCHITECTURAL PLANS DRAWN UP TO SOMEDAY EXPAND OUR MAIN BUILDING TO FILL OUR PROPERTY FOOTPRINT AND HOUSE A LARGER FOOD BANK THAT WILL LOOK LIKE A STANDARD MARKET, AND WHERE CLIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SELF-SELECT ALL THEIR OWN FOOD. THIS WILL BE A MAJOR PROJECT THAT TAKES SOME TIME TO IMPLEMENT, BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE PLANS TO BRING SUCH AN INNOVATIVE FOOD BANK EXPERIENCE TO OUR REGION IN THE FUTURE. WE UTILIZE THE AZ DES FOOD BANK DATABASE SYSTEM CALLED LINK2FEED AND HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO ENTER DATA DAILY AS FOOD GOES OUT. BOTH PIMA AND PINAL COUNTIES ARE ON THE SYSTEM, WITH ADDED ACCESS FOR OTHER COUNTIES, SO ALL OUR CLIENT DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TRACKED IN THE SAME MANNER, AND A VARIETY OF REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION AND TRACKING. WE GREW OUR NEWEST MIMS PROGRAM (MIGHTY IMPACT MEALS) TO BETTER SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WERE PARTICULARLY STRUGGLING TO KEEP ENOUGH FOOD ON THE TABLE WHEN SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION. MANY FAMILIES RELY ON THE SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM, THEN EXPERIENCE SEVERE FOOD INSECURITY OVER THE SUMMER AND SHORTER SEASONAL BREAKS. WE NOW GIVE TWO AREA SCHOOLS, WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, A TOTAL OF 40 MEMBERSHIP CARDS TO OUR MIMS PROGRAM. SCHOOL COUNSELORS SELECT THE FAMILIES THAT MOST NEED THE SUPPORT, AND WE PROVIDE BAGS OF GROCERIES EACH WEEK SCHOOL IS OUT TO ENSURE THE FAMILIES CAN FEED EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD AT LEAST TWO OR THREE ROBUST BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES AND DINNERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE HEALTHY SNACK FOODS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS. THIS YEAR WE ENROLLED NEW MIMS FAMILIES WHO WERE WELCOME TO USE THE SYSTEM EACH WEEK SCHOOL WAS OUT; AND WITH THE ADDED FOOD INTAKE, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM BONUS ITEMS. SOME FAMILIES CAME IN OCCASIONALLY, AS THEY NEEDED TO CARPOOL OR SEND PROXIES TO PICK UP THEIR FOOD. TYPICAL ISSUES WERE SHORTAGE OF TIME AND/OR FUEL TO TRAVEL TO IMPACT. WE ADDED AN OPTION TO HAVE US DELIVER WEEKLY KITS DURING THE SUMMER TO ONE OF THE MORE RURAL SCHOOLS WHERE TRANSPORTATION WAS A PARTICULARLY TOUGH CHALLENGE ACROSS THEIR PARTICIPATION GROUP THIS YEAR. THEY HELP GET THE FOOD TO FAMILIES AS NEEDED. OVERALL, PEOPLE HAD BETTER ACCESS TO FOOD AND ATE MORE NUTRITIONALLY. WE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO REDUCE HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO PROVIDE NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION TO HELP THEM MAKE BETTER FOOD CHOICES AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. MIMS FAMILIES RECEIVED RECIPES WITH THEIR BOXES SO THEY COULD LEARN TO COOK WITH, AND FOR, THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS TRY NEW FOODS AND FOOD COMBINATIONS. TOILETRIES WERE ALSO SUPPLIED TO ALL FAMILIES THROUGH THE FOOD BANK, INCLUDING PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS AS WELL AS HOUSEHOLD NEEDS LIKE TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS, LAUNDRY DETERGENT AND OTHER THINGS THAT CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS. HOMELESS CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVED TRAVEL SIZED PACKETS OF TOILETRIES REGULARLY, SO THEY HAD CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HYGIENE ITEMS. FOOD WAS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THEM EVERY WEEKDAY, AND NOW WE HAVE AN ADDED WEEKLY, LIGHTWEIGHT KIT OF FOOD THAT INCLUDES PROTEIN, FRUIT AND NONPERISHABLES SUCH AS GRANOLA BARS. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR THANKSGIVING DINNER KIT GIVEAWAY TO FOOD BANK CLIENTS WHO SIGNED UP FOR TICKETS TO THE FALL EVENT. THESE FOODS ARE PAID FOR DIRECTLY BY IMPACT THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART, BUT MANY DONORS ALSO RESTRICT DONATIONS TO THIS PROGRAM. WE TRADITIONALLY PLAN FOR 300 KITS MAXIMUM, AND THIS YEAR WE GAVE OUT ALL OF THEM. CLOTHING BANK - IMPACT OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA FUNDED THE CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM INCLUDING THE VALUE OF CLOTHING DONATED BY THIS PROGRAM. COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND IMPACT PURCHASES MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. WE ARE OPEN FIVE DAYS EACH WEEK, AND OUR DISTRIBUTION HAS RETURNED TO PRE-COVID LEVELS, SEEING 2047 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS SERVED, AND GIVING AWAY MORE THAN 75,000 ITEMS OF CLOTHES AND HOUSEHOLD LINENS SUCH AS BEDDING AND TOWELS. THIS PROGRAM IS OF COURSE HELPFUL TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE FEW CLOTHES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR MOST IT IS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO FREE UP EARNED INCOME WHICH COULD BE USED ON OTHER THINGS. WE EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN USE IN THE COMING YEAR. PUBLIC DONATIONS CONTINUE TO INCREASE AT BOTH IMPACT AND THE GOOSE; SO EVEN THE VOLUME OF DONATIONS SHARED BY THE GOOSE HAS BEEN ON THE RISE. THIS SERVICE, LIKE ALL IMPACT PROGRAMS IS FREE TO QUALIFYING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CLIENTS. WE PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL ELKS LODGE MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL OF OUR EXCESSIVE HIGH-QUALITY INVENTORY TO TUCSON AREA VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO EXPRESSED THEIR NEED. THERE ARE FEW CLOTHING BANKS IN OUR REGION, SO THE CLOTHES WERE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED; AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE OUR GROWING INVENTORY WITH OTHER AREA PARTNERS TO HELP SPREAD THE RESOURCE AVAILABILITY. THIS YEAR WE TOOK A LONG-TERM LEASE ON A NEW SPACE NEXT TO OUR CLOTHING BANK, WHICH IS DESIGNED LIKE A BOUTIQUE, IN A SHOPPING PLAZA. THIS NEW 1300 SQUARE FOOT SPACE WILL SOLELY BE USED AS OUR INTAKE AND SORTING SPACE FOR GENTLY USED GARMENTS AND LINENS. BY MOVING OUR SORTING AREA TO THE NEIGHBORING SPAC