Arizona Governor announces over $400,000 to fight hunger in the state

Funding to help rural communities receive food

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - On December 13, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced $460,000 in funding which will go into supporting food banks in the state.

The Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund is supplying the money for rural communities and will be dispersed by the Arizona Food Bank Network.

“Whether it has been funding PPE, meals for low income families, technology for students, mental health support services and more, the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been an invaluable resource for Arizonans as we’ve responded to the pandemic,” began Governor Ducey. “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity from so many and thank all who’ve donated. My sincere thanks also goes out to the leaders who volunteered their time to serve on the relief fund committee. They stepped up at a critical time, putting in countless hours with the philanthropic community to understand where the highest needs were and distribute these resources. I am immensely grateful for their service.”

Rural communities are the main focus for the funding, as they require more resources.

“For many families across our state, the economic disruptions of the pandemic are still causing hardships,” stated Angie Rodgers, president and CEO of the Arizona Food Bank Network. “Food banks are seeing the usual increased need around the holidays, and we expect this to continue through the winter months, which is why this funding couldn’t have come at a better time. We are grateful to the committee members for allocating these resources and for all the Arizonans who stepped up to help families in need.”  

Earlier this year, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey established the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund go towards the state's recovery, with funding coming from donations.

“We are so immensely thankful for these critical resources,” said Tony Bedolla, executive director at Bisbee Coalition for the Homeless. “Rural families face unique challenges without access to the same support services available in larger jurisdictions. These dollars will help us extend our services to even more families to help them through what’s still a difficult time for many.”