First Food Bank in the Nation
Did you know the very first food bank in the United States was founded right here in Arizona? In 1967, John Van Hengel recognized that too many families were falling through the cracks of government food assistance. Out of that vision, St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix was born—the beginning of a movement that would spread across the nation.
Today, Arizona remains at the center of that movement. Our state is served by four major food banks: St. Mary’s Food Bank, United Food Bank, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, and Yuma Community Food Bank. Here at TCAA, we are proud to partner with United Food Bank, which supplies the majority of food for our Pantry. We are equally grateful for the support of nine local grocery rescue partners and countless individuals and groups who host food drives. Together, it's possible for TCAA to place food into the hands of neighbors who need it most.
But the need is staggering. As of early 2025, food banks across Arizona are serving nearly 700,000 people every month (Arizona Food Bank Network). According to Axios (2025), nearly 900,000 Arizonans currently rely on SNAP Benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). With federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid on the horizon, the strain on food pantries like TCAA’s will only deepen. Pantries are already stretched thin in the wake of COVID-19, yet the demand continues to grow.
Children: Hungry to Learn
Right now, 1 in 5 children in Arizona doesn’t consistently have the food they need to grow, learn, and thrive. (Arizona Food Bank Network) Imagine sitting in a classroom where two of your classmates are too hungry to focus—that’s the reality across our state.
TCAA partners with all three Tempe school districts to deliver food boxes directly to schools where families are identified as needing support. Families with children make up a large portion of those who come to our pantry seeking help.
Older Adults: The Hidden Face of Hunger
Seniors are now the fastest growing group of food-insecure Arizonans (Arizona Food Bank Network). Shockingly, only about one-third of adults over 60 who qualify for SNAP benefits actually apply. That leaves thousands of older adults forced to choose between buying groceries, paying for medications, or keeping the air conditioning on during brutal summer months.
At TCAA, we help connect seniors to SNAP benefits and deliver food boxes to those who can’t drive to the grocery store or stand in long pantry lines under the Arizona heat. For many, this lifeline means safety, dignity, and health.
Homelessness Prevention: One Meal, One Bill Away
Food insecurity is not just about hunger—it’s often about stability. Every day, households in our community must make impossible choices: pay the rent, cover a medical bill, keep the lights on, or put food on the table.
By supplementing household food budgets, TCAA’s Pantry helps households stretch their income further. For some, this makes the difference between staying housed or facing eviction. For others, it means avoiding health risks during Arizona’s extreme heat.
Hope
Hunger in Arizona is real, urgent, and deeply personal. From children trying to learn on an empty stomach, to older adults struggling silently, to families on the brink of homelessness, the need is everywhere.
But so is hope.
Since Arizona became ground zero in the fight against hunger nearly 60 years ago, food banks and community partners like TCAA have worked tirelessly to stand in the gap.
With the support of partners, donors, and volunteers, TCAA will continue the fight against hunger so that no senior and no family in our community has to face hunger alone.
