Summer break for many children means time playing at the pool, going to camp and family vacations. However, for many in Arizona the summer is a very difficult time due to food insecurity. Desert Schools Federal Credit Union wants to make a difference.
On June 24, more than 150 managers and employees from Arizona’s largest credit union will be participating in a day of service to help fight childhood hunger, volunteering at four Valley locations: Feed My Starving Children, St. Mary’s Food Bank, United Food Bank and Valley of the Sun United Way. Participants will be inspecting food for quality, checking dates, sorting food into categories, weighing food and most importantly packing meals.
“Community involvement is one of our main pillars at Desert Schools and for this year’s day of service we are focusing on a critical issue of childhood hunger,” said Emma Garcia, AVP of Community Relations. “Volunteering is a great way to help food banks and other charities run their operations more efficiently. We are looking forward to supporting these very worthy organizations and their causes.”
Desert Schools will also be coordinating an in-house food drive; collecting peanut butter, jelly, bread, saltines, non-sugary cereal, canned tuna and diapers that will be donated to area food banks. These specific items are the most needed by food banks in the summer.
Arizona ranks third in the country for childhood hunger, behind only New Mexico and Mississippi, with 456,760 children facing hunger on a daily basis. This issue is especially challenging for many families who are already struggling, presenting the need to figure out extra meals during the summer that schools provide during the school year. Desert Schools hopes that volunteering at these exemplary organizations they will help raise awareness of this important issue and make an impact in the community it serves.
