At the end of every shift, when the donation doors close at noon daily at Hope For Hunger Food Bank in Glendale, Mission Sharing Coordinator Gary Rowlett looks around the empty space and already thinks about tomorrow.
The West Valley food bank, located at 5605 N. 55th Ave., is open to guests and families in need of assistance starting at 8 a.m. everyday. And demand is up more than double from a year ago.
So much so that the Hope For Hunger staff had to turn away almost 20 guests on Thursday when inventory ran out.
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At the end of every shift, when the donation doors close at noon daily at Hope For Hunger Food Bank in Glendale, Mission Sharing Coordinator Gary Rowlett looks around the empty space and already thinks about tomorrow.
The West Valley food bank, located at 5605 N. 55th Ave., is open to guests and families in need of assistance starting at 8 a.m. everyday. And demand is up more than double from a year ago.
So much so that the Hope For Hunger staff had to turn away almost 20 guests on Thursday when inventory ran out.
“The biggest challenge we have right now is making sure that we can build baskets that are meaningful to the guests and families that come in here,” Rowlett said. “The second biggest problem is, to do that, having enough food.”
Hope For Hunger is averaging about 225 guests in need each day.
“The month of May was about 135% greater than a year ago,” Rowlett added.
Some 90% of Hope For Hunger’s food comes from St. Mary’s Food Bank, of Phoenix, which delivers five morning shipments and two afternoon shipments to the Glendale site every week.
“Inflation and higher costs for everything from milk to vegetables, on top of higher gas and rent prices, comes at the same time that pandemic assistance is expiring — and it’s created something of a perfect storm in terms of need,” St. Mary’s Food Bank posted on its website in May.
Hope For Hunger also has a new partner in Midwest Food Bank, of Gilbert. Glendale representatives go there every other week to collect nonperishables and meat. Inventory also comes through private donations.
Rowlett says that the biggest need at Hope For Hunger, in addition to perishable and nonperishable goods, are monetary donations.
“The same problems you’re facing in a grocery store, not only pricing but supply, is the same problem we face but probably more so,” he noted.
Residents may deliver donations on site during open hours, from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Click here for information and also to volunteer.
Click here to make a monetary donation to support the ongoing work taking place at Hope for Hunger
Call 602-773-4344 or email hfh@phxmission.org.
Steve Stockmar News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net @stevestockmar
Meet Steve Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.
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