RISE Grant Success: Abiding Ministries
Abiding Ministries, a dedicated food pantry partner of United Food Bank on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, recently received a second $10,000 grant from United Food Bank’s RISE grant program in 2024. The program is designed to elevate food pantry operations and grow the overall impact of the food assistance network within the community. This grant marks a significant milestone for Abiding Ministries as they continue their mission to provide essential food services and more to their community.
The journey of Abiding Ministries has been one of resilience and hope. In 2022, a devastating arson attack destroyed a building that was previously a marketplace and a venue for church conferences. The fire caused extensive damage, burning through the metal structure and melting electrical and plumbing systems. The building’s interior was rendered unusable due to severe smoke damage, leading to the destruction of everything inside, including air conditioners and food storage.
Despite the setback, the team at Abiding Ministries saw an opportunity. Through friends and connections, they reached out to the building owner, sharing their vision of transforming the ruined structure into a permanent location for their food pantry. This collaboration was driven by the pantry’s struggle to find a stable home and their commitment to serving the community.
The first RISE Grant in 2023 enabled the installation of electrical systems and drywall to restore the burned-down building. The 2024 RISE Grant will further these efforts by funding the installation of spray foam insulation, a garage door, and an emergency door. This progress is crucial for creating a functional and safe environment for their operations.
“This building is a great opportunity to better match the need and store a larger amount of food, bring on other programs, have a clothing closet, diaper bank – there’s a lot of potential,” says co-founder Christy Day. “This new building will help us serve our families adequately and allow us to provide more culturally appropriate and sensitive services.”
Abiding Ministries, founded in 2018, initially started to support children struggling to find food. On the San Carlos Apache reservation, the limited food options included commodities and a single grocery store spread over 1.9 million acres, with exorbitant prices. Day recalls, “We started making free boxes of food, worth about $100, that could feed a family of four for a week. It had spam, hamburger helper, milk, eggs, and other things that the community would buy for themselves.”
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the need for food support. Abiding Ministries connected with United Food Bank and began receiving pallets of food, which they distributed from a community building. However, a second outbreak forced them to relocate to their current church building. Despite limited space, operating out of a 12’ by 15’ room, their service has grown to 76 families weekly, with numbers sometimes soaring to 100 families in just three hours.
While Abiding Ministries operates out of a church, it aims to appeal to a broader population. “Sometimes when people see the church, they think they can’t come and get food, but that’s not true, and we want to be able to provide for them too,” Day explained. The organization’s goal is to establish a food pantry that operates independently of the church to reach more people in need. Day underscores the importance of inclusivity by highlighting that, as a religious organization, creating a welcoming environment for all fosters a sense of community and belonging for everyone, regardless of their background.
Abiding Ministries hopes to relocate to the new building in August. “This grant has been instrumental and vital to getting this far. We are super appreciative of the opportunity and support from both United Food Bank and Arizona Food Bank Network,” Day adds. “This is the next step in becoming an autonomous food pantry whose hours will be driven by our neighbors’ needs.” With the continued support from grants like the RISE program, Abiding Ministries is on a promising path to achieving this vision.
The RISE (Revitalize, Inspire, Support, Empower) grant program, established by United Food Bank (UFB), offers $10,000 awards to partner agencies looking to enhance their food pantry operations and broaden the food assistance network’s impact within the community. Grants are available for initiatives across three project categories: Equipment & Facilities, which includes purchases or repairs of essential items like refrigerators, vehicles, and technology; Sustainability & Development, focusing on leadership planning, volunteer recruitment, and professional development; and Community Health, which encompasses activities that foster community engagement, provide culturally relevant services, and enhance overall well-being.
Interested in supporting our RISE Grant Program? Contact our Director of Philanthropy, Grace, at gbishara@unitedfoodbank.org for more information!
Written by KC Raguay
