Arizona Food Banks Network

Member services: azfbn has one consistent member services and logistics goal: to get more and better quality Food through the Food Bank Network and into the hands of those who need it most. In fy 2021-2022 the azfbn logistics task force distributed 44,467,785 pounds of Food. Azfbn's three drivers transported 538 total loads, most of which was produce that supported the az Food Bank's produce initiative. In fy 2021-2022, azfbn continued to support our Food banks by purchasing highly nutritious Food for clients. Azfbn also awarded funds to agencies statewide that were coping with covid-19 pandemic response.

Advocacy and education: azfbn advocated for and received funds for a program called "friends of the farm" which is a purchasing program to engage Arizona's small farms in growing and distributing Food through the Food Bank Network to arizonans at risk of hunger. Additionally, azfbn was a key partner as federal, state and local hunger relief programs (such as enhanced snap, the covid Food assistance program and pandemic ebt) were rolled out in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Azfbn staff served as sounding boards and idea generators, educating and advocating about the role of Food banks in ensuring that arizonans impacted by the pandemic did not also suffer from hunger.

Innovation programs: azfbn works to ensure that especially vulnerable populations do not suffer from hunger, and are given pathways to not regularly need the emergency Food Bank Network across the state. This work involves ensuring schools and districts make free and reduced price breakfast and lunch available to as many children as possible, examining the reasons that eligible seniors do not enroll for Food assistance (snap, cacfp) and ensuring college students have access to healthy Food and systems of support as they work to secure an education. Azfbn supported schools and feeding partners continue their service of meals distribution by providing grants. Azfbn also assisted in relieving increased operational costs to provide meals through new distribution methods due to covid-19.