Abiding Ministry is Turning Tragedy into Triumph
For Christy and Rob Day, a simple meal at a small restaurant in San Carlos turned into the beginning of a life-changing mission. As they left with leftovers in hand, two local children approached the couple hesitatingly.
“Do you have a couple of bucks so we can buy some chips and a pop?” they asked nervously.
Caught off guard, Day checked her wallet but found no cash. However, she did have half of a burger she could offer. She replied, “I don’t have any cash on me, but I do have this half an Apache burger left. Would you like it?”
Their faces lit up, and they eagerly accepted the food.
“The fact that they were just devouring that thing down, you know, you could tell they were hungry,” reflected Day. “It just had a really huge impact on us.”
That moment stayed with Christy. Igniting a profound sense of purpose, she deeply felt called to address the poverty affecting many on the reservation. This calling planted the seed for Abiding Ministries.
What is Abiding Ministries?
Abiding Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit located in Globe, Arizona. Founded by the Day family in 2018, its mission is simple: to serve and address the needs of the San Carlos community. 
In August 2022, Abiding Ministries became one of United Food Bank’s 120 partner agencies. This partnership has been instrumental in helping the ministry expand its reach and impact. Abiding Ministries hosts a food distribution every Friday serving between 100 and 120 families weekly. Despite their best efforts, the demand often exceeds supply, with food running out within hours of opening.
But food is just one part of their mission. Driving through the reservation on her way to work, Day is reminded daily that the community’s complex needs are much larger than just food insecurity.
“I see the kids who aren’t going to school. I see the kids who are in abusive situations or in homes that don’t have windows, don’t have floors and don’t have electricity,” said Day. “And I see all these things, God, but what part of this do you want me to address? Because obviously none of us can do everything.”
Beyond food distributions, the ministry also works to tackle other urgent needs in the community, helping build homes and distributing shoes and water bottles. Its goal is to help bring hope to those facing difficult situations.
Responding to Devastation
This summer brought unexpected hardships. In July 2024, tragedy struck the San Carlos Reservation when an arson attack swept the area. Over 2,100 acres of land were burned and destroyed 21 homes, leaving about 75 people unhoused. The fire devastated the tight-knit community, where many homes have been passed down through multiple generations. Unfortunately, many of these ancestral homes are uninsured.
“There’s no insurance out there,” explains Day. “Some of these homes are two generations old, so Apaches cannot just file a claim and have my house rebuilt.”
As the community was left to deal with the aftermath of the fire, Abiding Ministries became a crucial hub for relief efforts. Working with United Food Bank, the ministry provided meals and support to those left unhoused and temporarily relocated to a local hotel on the reservation. Simple meals, like ramen and grocery rescue meals, became lifelines for those most affected.
Support also poured in from outside communities and organizations, including Resolution Copper, which helped fund and assist Abiding Ministries in administrating the food to those impacted by the fire. Brenda Astor, a San Carlos resident and Resolution Copper’s Principal Advisor for Native American Affairs, played a pivotal role in rallying support. For her, the work has been deeply personal.
“With Resolution Copper, I feel it is a big responsibility to make sure that our company is fully aware that any little effort they make to help out in native country is so much appreciated,” Astor said.
Moving Forward
While 2024 has brought immense challenges for the ministry, this year has also provided new opportunities.
Earlier this year, Abiding Ministries received their second RISE grant. RISE (Revitalize, Inspire, Support, Empower) is an exclusive grant program established by United Food Bank. It offers $10,000 awards to partner agencies in rural communities to expand their operations.
Currently, the ministry operates out of a cramped 10-by-30-foot room in the back of a church. According to Day, there isn’t enough space to do everything they want, such as providing residents with other resources like clothes and diapers. With the grant money, Abiding Ministries hopes to expand its food pantry operations and make all its dreams a reality.
Read our full story about the RISE Grant here.
What started with half a leftover burger and a simple act of kindness has blossomed into a mission that changes lives daily in the San Carlos community. To help support organizations like Abiding Ministries, visit our website at unitedfoodbank.org/donate/.
