Shutdown Support
YOU can help keep families fed.
The current government shutdown and changes in essential food assistance are affecting so many families in Southern Arizona.
With no clear end in sight, more and more people are turning to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for the food they need to get by, and we need your help to ensure we have enough to support them.
THE REALITY:
Thousands of federal employees in Southern Arizona have been impacted by the shutdown.
They are now missing regular paychecks while still having fixed expenses like rent, mortgage, utilities, medical bills, and, most urgently, food. Workers classified as “non-essential” have been sent home without pay, and essential workers have been required to continue working, despite not being paid.
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SNAP benefits have not yet been released in November. While the government has agreed to pay partial benefits, it is unclear when these will be released and they are still not enough to bridge the gap for nearly 900,000 Arizonans who rely on this program.
For every $1 worth of food we can distribute, SNAP benefits helped provide $5 worth. We do not have the current supply or means to cover this gap.
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The shutdown risks hitting those with the least buffer hardest:
- Families with children
- Single parents
- Seniors
- People on disability
- Rural and tribal communities where poverty and food insecurity are already elevated
- Working families living paycheck to paycheck
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HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Monetary donations are especially powerful at this time because every dollar you give helps provide 3 meals, when we are able to combine your generosity with our bulk purchasing efforts, volunteer support, donated items, and efficient distributions.
We gratefully accept food donations and would also love to support your own food drive! Our most needed items include: rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, and canned tuna/chicken. Shelf-stable options are the best!
By volunteering at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, you can sort and pack food, assist at our community farms, or help prepare meals for families in need.
Every hour you give brings hope to someone facing food insecurity.
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Shutdown or not, we know our community continues to stand together with us against hunger. We appreciate everything you do!