SAFFORD — Arizona Community Foundation President and CEO Anna Maria Chavez is touring the state, talking with nonprofit organizations and regional board members to see how ACF can help address the greatest needs.
On Monday and Tuesday, she was in Graham and Greenlee counties, touring Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry, Duncan Food Bank and Nalwoodi Denzhone Community food distribution on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
“What I’m finding, traveling from northern Arizona now, obviously, here in this beautiful community, is that people are having a hard time making ends meet,” Chavez said. “Whether you’re a working family or whether you’re grandparents raising grandkids, they’re having to rely more and more on food banks and food pantries across the State of Arizona.”
To help, Chavez presented emergency grants of $10,000 each to Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry and Nalwoodi Denzhone Community, and $25,000 to Duncan Food Bank.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Bonnie Dalzine, executive director for Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry said the food bank served 9,558 individuals in 2024, and this year the total served is in excess of 11,000. Plus this year’s annual Double R Communications Elementary School Food Drive came in about 18,000 pounds under last year, so what would normally last until November will now be able to serve people in need only through the spring, so the grant is especially needed.
“We’re going to be able to hold rice, beans, bread and peanut butter, which are big basics here for us,” Dalzine said. “That should cover us up until about June of next year.”
Dalzine showed Chavez and ACF of the Gila Valley board members how Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry maximize its ability to help struggling families and individuals, by growing organic produce on its farm, growing specific plants to attract pollinators, using tilapia and composting to fertilize, and by raising chickens to provide eggs.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
