Greater Paradise Valley Community Assistance Team

Weekendfood4kids (backpack program) - a signature effort, supplies backpacks filled with food items to students who attend title 1 schools in the paradise valley unified school district. The food provided in the backpacks is intended to offer two breakfasts, lunches, and snack items to children for the weekend to replace the food provided by the school during the week. These children receive meals at school during the week but often go hungry on the weekends. During the current year, 19,416 backpacks with food were distributed to students.

Palomino neighborhood outreach program (pop) - four tuesdays per month the food bank delivers food to families who live in the palomino neighborhood. The palomino neighborhood has the highest poverty rate in northeast phoenix. Many of these neighbors do not have cars to get to the food bank. During the current year, 1,313 people were served through this program.

School nurse program - in 2015 the food bank became aware that school nurses were most times purchasing, with their own money, the juice and crackers that were needed to dispense medicine and to feed a hungry child in the morning. In 2016, the food bank began offering juice and crackers to school nurses and continued this program in 2024. Participating schools have their supply of juice and crackers delivered to them twice a year by volunteers from the food bank.

Neighbors caring, neighbors sharing outreach - this program expands the organization's reach by working with community partners including houses of worship and businesses. These community partners act as distribution points and hubs for our neighbors suffering from food insecurities. The food bank supplies pre-made family food assistance boxes for distribution through these hubs. During the current fiscal year, 461 people were served through this program.