By Philip Haldiman
Mail | X: @PhilipHaldiman

FSL is offering Thanksgiving lunches in Peoria and Wickenburg to those in need, Nov. 27.

FSL is the Valley-based nonprofit formerly known as Foundation for Senior Living. Its mission is to provide affordable housing and community-based services for all.

FSL officials say seniors are feeling the pinch this year with the rising cost of goods across the state and seeing a 47% spike in the amount of food distributed via their food pantries in Peoria and Wickenburg.

They said thieir Peoria food pantry distributed 276,000 pounds of food to more than 6,900 residents, and their Wickenburg food pantry distributed half a million pounds of food to local residents, where 47% of residents are over the age of 65.

FSL now serves one in three Wickenburg residents.

To serve this need, FSL will offer a Thanksgiving lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Peoria Community Center 8335 W. Jefferson Street, and 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Wickenburg Senior Center, 466 W. Wickenburg Way. Both lunches will be served on Nov. 27.

FSL President & CEO Tami Bohannon said no Arizonan should have to choose between a meal and other basic needs. This year FSL provided nourishment and support to 15,000 individuals through food pantry boxes, congregate meals and home-delivered meals in Peoria and Wickenburg, she said.

"Meeting seniors where they are ensures they can maintain their dignity and well-being, one meal at a time. To help us continue this vital work throughout the holiday season, we encourage community members to donate to our food pantries in Peoria and Wickenburg — every contribution makes a difference," Bohannon said

FSL also has community pantries at its affordable housing properties throughout the state.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.