Thanksgiving is a time to gather around the table with family to share turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Yet, for thousands of families in Arizona, the joy of Thanksgiving is overshadowed by stress, wondering if they can celebrate this year.
On November 20, the Mesa Convention Center dished up hope for hundreds of Arizonans. The first person arrived at 1:40 a.m. to ensure they could get a turkey and fresh produce to create a memorable Thanksgiving. With the help of State Farm and the Arizona Cardinals, United Food Bank served 2,396 households during the Thanksgiving Distribution—a staggering 33% increase from nearly 1,800 households served in 2023.
Among the attendees were Geraldin, a mom and a first-time recipient. Her journey with United Food Bank began with a simple suggestion from friends.
“My friends, they asked me, they’re like, hey, ‘do you know that there’s something going on?’ I was like yeah, let’s go!”
Like so many others, Geraldin has noticed how many people in her community are struggling to catch up with inflation. Amidst the hardships this year has faced for her family, she has seen the Arizona community’s support and generosity.
“We are all a community that, you know, is having the same struggles,” said Geraldine. “We all have the same needs. So [the distribution at] the convention center would help a lot of people in need right now in these difficult times.”
Other attendees echoed similar sentiments. Devon, a father of two children, is a first-time recipient. He shared how hard things have been recently, but is thankful for the support.
“Everything costs more; even though we’re a family of two working parents, the cost of everything is higher, so anything helps,” he said.
Sonja came to this event with her mother, Lorraine. They shared how much this distribution means to them and their families. The past couple of years have been hard. Lorraine had a knee injury six months prior that forced her to quit her job. Sonja was released from prison and is trying to get back on her feet. For them, this Thanksgiving means new beginnings, and they couldn’t have done it without the food they received.
“I’m happy to have the help cause everybody needs it every once in a while,” Sonja shared. “It means a lot because I’m able to provide for my family, and, you know, my kids will be able to eat well on Thanksgiving like any other family.”
As we sit down with our loved ones this holiday season, let us be thankful for the power of community and the importance of helping those in need.
United Food Bank will host a Christmas food distribution on Dec. 20 at the Mesa Convention Center. For more information about our upcoming events, visit our website at unitedfoodbank.org or follow us on social media @UnitedFoodBank.