The city of Scottsdale is expanding its food assistance efforts through new partnerships and increased community support. Local nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and regional food agencies are working with Scottsdale Human Services to improve access to nutritious food for residents experiencing food insecurity.
The Scottsdale Food Resources Group, which includes organizations such as Scottsdale Community Partners, Tempe Community Action Agency, NOAH, Duet Partners in Aging, Area Agency on Aging (Phoenix), HonorHealth, HonorHealth Desert Mission, Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, and the city itself, continues to coordinate resources and fill service gaps across the area.
Scottsdale’s Food Bank has recently increased its weekly service capacity by 20 households and now supports up to 120 households each week. Donations from local grocery stores help keep shelves stocked with fresh items. St. Mary’s Food Bank supplies 120 emergency food boxes per week. Efforts are underway to expand distribution through satellite locations at Paiute Neighborhood Center, Granite Reef Senior Center, Vista del Camino, and Via Linda Senior Center.
A significant development is the retrofitting of a new box truck for the Food Bank. Soon equipped with refrigeration thanks to community donations from Blue Zones Project Scottsdale ($9,402), HonorHealth ($6,750), and the Scottsdale Firefighters Association ($13,500), the truck will allow safe transport of perishable foods such as produce and dairy from stores to distribution sites.
“Expanding refrigerated transport allows us to rescue more fresh, healthy food that would otherwise go to waste,” said Sue Oh, Scottsdale Human Services manager. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community partners, we can safely deliver these items to families and seniors who need them most.”
“Every donation helps ensure Scottsdale families and seniors have access to fresh, healthy food,” said city of Scottsdale Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas. “I’m proud to participate in this effort and work alongside our community partners to make a meaningful difference for families and seniors across the city.”
Scottsdale Human Services is also enhancing its programs by offering gift cards for residents with dietary restrictions and expanding senior nutrition initiatives. The Brown Bag Program currently serves 120 seniors but has capacity for up to 200 participants; it provides supplemental groceries along with special holiday meals through the Adopt-a-Senior Program.
The Food Bank is seeking volunteers—especially those able to assist with grocery pickups using the new refrigerated truck—and updating its Amazon Wish List based on current needs.
More information about these programs can be found at ScottsdaleAZ.gov by searching “Food Bank.”
