activities · 5
what they do
direct service · 5
- Community Garden and Produce Production Community Garden with Food DonationOperates a community garden adjacent to its pantry with five raised beds and automated drip irrigation, growing seasonal produce such as okra and planning for expanded variety to support food distribution efforts.
- Food Pantry with Client Choice Model Emergency Supply DistributionOperates a food pantry that uses a grocery store-style model, allowing families to choose their own food items, and packages emergency food boxes for distribution to food-insecure families.
- School-Based Food Distribution ProgramProvides food to students and families experiencing food insecurity through local schools, supporting over 1,200 students across five schools in three districts and serving over 20,000 children and their families annually.
- Seasonal and Holiday Food Initiatives Holiday Food and Gift DistributionConducts annual food drives and holiday events, including Thanksgiving Harvest and End of School Year Market events, with large-scale distributions such as providing over 1,000 turkeys and feeding more than 5,000 individuals during Thanksgiving.
- Weekend and Emergency Food Programs School-Based Meal ProgramsRuns a Weekend Lunch Program that prepares and distributes lunches for children and provides emergency food boxes to over 20,000 school families annually in Arizona.
strategies · 6
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Client-Choice Pantry Model client_choice_modelThe organization utilizes a client-choice pantry model, allowing families to select their own food items in a grocery store-like setting. This approach aims to reduce food waste by ensuring families receive items they will consume and respects cultural preferences, based on feedback that pre-packed boxes often contained unaccustomed items.
- Community-Driven and Volunteer-Based Approach community_mobilizationThe organization operates with a strong community-driven and volunteer-based model, engaging local communities to understand needs, build relationships, and mobilize resources. This approach aims to create sustainable solutions for child hunger by directing all donations towards program implementation through a 100% volunteer workforce.
- Confidential and Dignified Support confidentiality_and_dignityThe organization prioritizes student confidentiality to protect families from the stigma associated with food insecurity. While sponsors are informed of the school and grade level, individual identifying information is withheld to ensure a dignified approach to assistance.
- Provision of Healthy and Nutritious Food healthy_food_provisionThe organization is committed to providing healthy food options, focusing on minimally processed items low in sugar, salt, and harmful fats, with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, through both pantry services and emergency food boxes.
- School-Based Identification of Need school_partnershipThe organization collaborates with school staff across various school districts to identify families in need of food assistance, leveraging existing school networks to reach those who require support.
- Targeting the "Benefits Cliff" Population benefits_cliff_supportThe organization focuses on providing food assistance to working families who earn too much to qualify for government assistance but still face food insecurity, particularly during school breaks and holidays when school meal programs are unavailable.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Annual Thanksgiving Event / Turkey Drive
An annual event providing Thanksgiving meals, including turkeys and fixings, to food-insecure families identified by local school districts.
Community Garden
A community garden with raised beds and automated drip irrigation to grow fresh produce for distribution.
Grocery Store Concept Pantry
A pantry where families can choose their own food items, addressing issues of food waste from pre-packed boxes.
relationships · 12
who they work with
- Arcadia Baseball Partner — Partnered for a food drive from January 31 to February 11, 2022, to stock the pantry shelves.
- Arizona Masterworks Chorale Partner — Board member of Feeding Students USA is a member and former treasurer
- Feed Our Babies USA Partner — Non-profit partner of Feeding Students USA
- Kyrene Rotary Partner — Partnered for the Kyrene Rotary Golf Classic.
- Kyrene Rotary Club Partner — Board member of Feeding Students USA serves as Chairman of Speaker Committee
- Monte Vista Church that Loves Partner — Co-hosted the 8th Annual Thanksgiving Day Harvest Event in 2022.
- Monte Vista Church that Loves Partner — Co-hosted the 8th Annual Thanksgiving Day Harvest Event.
- Monte Vista Nazarene Church Partner — Partnered for a Farmers Market event on July 22, 2017.
- PayPal Government — Accepts donations via PayPal for fundraising efforts.
- Prince and Peace Lutheran Church Partner — Location for the Thanksgiving Food Drive.
- Produce on Wheels Partner — Partnered for a Farmers Market event on July 22, 2017.
- local schools Partner — Partners with local schools to support families experiencing food insecurity.