Arizona Food Banks Network

Member services: azfbn's logistics goal is to get more and better quality Food through the Food Bank Network and into the hands of those who need it most. In fy 2022-2023 the azfbn logistics task force distributed 44,941,427 pounds of Food through partnership with our members. Azfbn's new produce rescue operations distributed 33,699,837 pounds of donated produce to Food banks. Azfbn also continued to support our Food banks by purchasing highly nutritious Food for clients through the friends of the farm program. Azfbn awarded funds to agencies statewide for meeting increased demand through recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.

Advocacy and education: azfbn is a key partner in advocating for Food banks and arizonans experienceing hunger at the federal and state levels. We work with policymakers and other elected officials as well as state and federal agencies to improve access to healthy Food through federal programs like the supplemental nutrition program (snap, formerly Food stamps), school meals and emergency Food assistance.

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.