Arizona Gives Day
March 28, 2023
Read our Horn of Plenty Newsletter
April 21, 2023
Recognizing the Heart of St. Mary's Food Bank
St. Mary's Food Bank is the largest food bank in Arizona, providing essential support to families in need across the state. While our mission to alleviate hunger and support vulnerable communities is critical, it would not be possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers.
Volunteering at St. Mary's Food Bank is a rewarding experience that allows individuals to make a tangible impact on the lives of others. Volunteers at St. Mary's are responsible for sorting and packaging emergency food boxes, distributing food to clients, and supporting the day-to-day operations of the food bank. Without the generosity and hard work of these volunteers, St. Mary's would not be able to serve the thousands of families who rely on their support each year. In fact, St. Mary's would have to DOUBLE our staff to meet the need and continue serving the number of people that come to us for food support.
'The Heartbeat of our Mission.'
In recognition of the invaluable contributions made by St. Mary's volunteers, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation. Thank you to each and every volunteer who has donated their time, energy, and enthusiasm to support the mission of St. Mary's Food Bank. Your commitment and dedication are truly inspiring, and we are grateful for your tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of others.
To all the volunteers who have given their time to sort and package food donations, we appreciate your attention to detail and dedication to ensuring that every donation is of the highest quality. Your hard work ensures that families in need receive nutritious and high-quality food, and we are grateful for your contribution to this important work.
Every Volunteer Makes a Difference!
Thank you to the volunteers that help with food distributions, from filling shopping baskets full of food to loading them into families' vehicles. We serve more than 1,000 families Monday-Friday between our Phoenix and Surprise food distribution locations with the help of our amazing volunteers. Your friendly faces and willingness to go the extra mile have helped to create a welcoming environment for those in need, and we thank you for making a difference in the lives of our clients.
Thank you to our volunteers that help with our day-to-day operations packing emergency food boxes, senior boxes, tribal boxes, backpacks for youth, and our Kids Café meals. Together, our volunteers pack an average of 105,000 boxes monthly which get distributed throughout Arizona!
Thank you to our volunteers that sort and organize all of our food drive donations. This task takes muscle, but is critical to making sure that the product we give away to those in need is healthy and nutritious! Our Surprise volunteers sort an average of 10,000 pounds every day! To everyone who helps us pack Kids Café meals, your compassion to children in our community is vital. Nearly 1 in 4 children in Arizona struggle with hunger. Our Kids Cafe®, School Pantry and Backpack programs help to feed hungry children in our communities. Our volunteers pack over 2,000 Kids Café meals in a two- hour shift!
Thank you to our volunteers that help with our off-site Mobile Distributions! St. Mary’s distributes food to hundreds of nonprofit partners through most of Arizona. These agencies include food pantries, dining halls, homeless shelters, and more. Together we are alleviating hunger in Arizona through the gathering and distribution of food.
Finally, to all the volunteers who have given their time and energy to support St. Mary's Food Bank, we want to express our heartfelt thanks. Your commitment to our mission and your willingness to give back to the community are an inspiration to us all. We are honored to have you as part of the St. Mary's family, and we look forward to continuing to work together to alleviate hunger and support our communities.
Become a St. Mary's Food Bank Volunteer!
If you're interested in getting involved with St. Mary's Food Bank as a volunteer, there are many ways to do so. Here are some steps you can take to become one of our amazing volunteers:
- Visit our website or go to stmarysfb.org/volunteer to learn more about our volunteer opportunities. You can find information on the website about the volunteer program, the different types of volunteer positions available, and the requirements for each position.
- Create an account: To become a volunteer, you will need to create an account on the St. Mary's Food Bank volunteer portal. This will allow you to sign up for shifts and track your volunteer hours.
- Sign up for shifts: St. Mary’s Food Bank offers a variety of volunteer activities. From our VolunteerHub website, the icons at the top of the page will allow you to view activities at our Phoenix and Surprise location. At our Phoenix location, volunteers can help with food distribution and packing emergency food boxes. At our Surprise location, volunteers can sign up to help with client distribution, warehouse activities like packing and sorting food, or packing our Kids Café meals.
- Show up and make a difference! On the day of your volunteer shift, be sure to arrive on time and ready to work. You will be given instructions on what to do and how to do it, so don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for help if you need it. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the experience of making a positive impact in your community!
The impact of St. Mary's Food Bank would not be possible without the incredible efforts of our volunteers. We thank each and every volunteer for their selflessness, dedication, and compassion in serving those in need. You are the heartbeat of St. Mary's Food Bank, and we are grateful for all that you do.
