Child Crisis Arizona Was There When It Mattered Most

Keani has always taken pride in providing for his small family. But his world shifted when he was laid off in November. With no job and with a two-year-old son and wife to care for, making ends meet became overwhelming. Searching for a solution to keep their family afloat, Keani’s loving wife, Jade, began searching high and low for help, hoping to find an answer to their problems. This is when she found Child Crisis Arizona, a local nonprofit right around the corner from her home.  

For nearly five decades, Child Crisis Arizona has been a beacon of hope and safety for families. They are driven by their mission of fostering safe kids and strong families by offering a myriad of family and child-focused services, including early education classes, counseling, emergency residential services, and adoption and foster care support.

Alongside their various year-round services, Child Crisis Arizona also provides a beloved camp experience for children with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities at Whispering Hope Ranch in Prescott. Kids can experience the typical summer camp experience every summer, including roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs. But more than that, these young campers can make meaningful memories with others facing similar challenges.

Food distribution is also an essential part of Child Crisis Arizona’s work. As part of their efforts to support families and children, they recognize the importance of providing nutritious meals to those who might otherwise be facing food insecurity. For Torrie Taj, CEO of Child Crisis Arizona, she has seen this need for food assistance grow over the past few years.

“Specifically, right now with our economy, there are so many families struggling, and we don’t want children to go hungry,” explained Taj.

To solve this problem, they sought help from the United Food Bank. Through a long-standing partnership with United Food Bank, Child Crisis Arizona distributes food boxes filled with fresh produce, dairy products, meats, canned goods and bakery items to over 2,000 families monthly.

“Having this food and the food boxes is encouraging [neighbors] to cook healthy meals is important,” explained Taj. “So, we’re trying to teach nutrition, prevent disease and create wellness in our community.”

While a simple food donation may not seem like much, for Jade, being able to feed her baby healthy meals “helps a lot.” Not only does food help ensure families meet their daily nutrition goals, but opening a new box every month becomes a joyful tradition. In her home, Jade has seen the impact first-hand. For her, the pure joy and excitement on her son’s face each month as he opens the food box makes it all worthwhile.

“He has always enjoyed the food and is always excited to open the box and ask, ‘What is there? What is inside?” she explains with a smile.  

The process of rebuilding their lives hasn’t been easy. However, with the support of Child Crisis Arizona and United Food Bank, Keani and Jade now have greater stability and peace of mind, knowing where their next meal is coming from. For those who may also be struggling to provide for their families, Keani and Jade have one message: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Support is out there. Sometimes, all it takes is one simple Google search.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, visit unitedfoodbank.org/findfood to locate free resources in your area.

And if you’re in a position to give, know that when you support United Food Bank, you’re not just donating money, time, or food; you are also changing the lives of families in need. Although United Food Bank’s Summer of a Million Meals telethons have ended, it is not too late to donate to this cause. After all, hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Join us in making a difference today by donating at azmillionmeals.org.