Faiths, volunteers join to help Queen Creek food bank

To commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, America 250, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Father McGivney Food Bank welcomed a JustServe semitruck carrying approximately 40,000 pounds of food donated by the church for families in need across Arizona.

The truck carrying the food arrived at Father McGivney Food Bank at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 20615 E. Ocotillo Road, on Sept. 29.

Robert Varela and Steve Way are the founders and directors of Father McGivney Food Bank. They stated that their food supplies are running low.

"The America 250 food truck could not have come at a better time,” the two stated in a press release. “We serve 350-450 families each week, and this delivery will make a huge difference in helping us continue to provide food for families in our community."

The donation is expected to feed about 1,400 people for a week, the release continued.

The food truck deliveries are part of a national collaboration kicked off in November 2025, in which 250 truckloads of food are being donated to communities in all 50 states. The 250 deliveries will provide approximately 10 million meals to families in need across the United States as part of the America Gives initiative, according to the release.

This is the sixth food truck delivery to Arizona food banks, with food banks in Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Gilbert receiving deliveries earlier this year.

Through America 250’s America Gives initiative and the church’s JustServe platform, the church is using its established infrastructure, volunteer network and humanitarian food resources to help communities in need.

“No matter what our faith is, what are beliefs are, or whatever our circumstances, we come together to serve and this is a place where that happens — at Father McGivney’s,” stated LDS Elder John Lewis.

After the delivery, a volunteer appreciation breakfastandceremony took place. Among the speakers was Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley.

“There is a quote that I think captures why this kind of service matters so much, ‘You make a living by what do and you make a life by what you give,’” Wheatley stated. “The beautiful thing about volunteerism is you may not know the name of the person you are helping, but they know that somebody cares enough to help.”

Rob Padia, former district deputy of the Roman Catholic service organization the Knights of Columbus, also thanked the volunteers.

“What brings us all together today, there are many, but two that stand out to me are hunger and the love of thy neighbor,” Padia stated. “In our community today, many families face difficult choices. Hardship is quiet but real. Father McGivney’s refuses to look away. Our community, whether Catholic or not, refuses to look away. We all work together so no one goes to bed hungry.”