MESA, Arizona -- June 8, 2023 – A $4,000 grant from the Arizona Food Bank Network to Mesa Community College, awarded through the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, supports the college’s capacity to provide shelf-stable food and fresh produce to food insecure students.

This grant, which was funneled to the community through the Arizona Food Bank Network from Maricopa County Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds, was awarded to MCC this semester to assist the college in meeting the challenges and increased demand for nutritional items resulting from the impact of the pandemic. It was the first time the college was allocated such funding.

“It’s a much needed resource because a fueled body is better academically,” said Mesa Market Coordinator Adam Soto. The Mesa Market is an on-campus pantry where students can select up to 10 food and five hygiene items weekly at no cost..

He explained that the grant enabled the Mesa Market to:

• Sponsor a produce fair in April offering alternative and healthy options to the usual non-perishable items it provides including locally grown apples, avocados, bananas, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, citrus, onions, potatoes, red grapes, romaine lettuce, squash and strawberries
• Partner with the MCC Sustainable Agriculture program to provide students with college-grown–beets, Brussels sprouts, radishes and Swiss chard and provide student-made specialty items including pickles, stewed tomatoes and orange marmalade for the produce fair.
• Purchase a greater selection of non-perishable as well as ethnic and cultural foods for MCC students

“The produce fair was a test event as we were unsure of the demand for fresh produce,” Soto noted. “All fruit and vegetable items were gone in the first hour of the fair! Now we know the produce is wanted and appreciated.”

He added that the grant “provided an additional layer of support for our students and has helped them get through their day, from having access to something as simple as a midday snack to items needed for meal preparation for their families.”

The student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, said Soto. “They’re very appreciative of the market and how it helps them on a regular basis.”

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Media contacts:
Mesa Community College - Julie Ruiz, julie.ruiz@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7283
Arizona Food Bank Network - Wendy De La Pena, wendy@azfoodbanks.org, 623-533-9211

The Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN) is a coalition of 5 regional food banks and almost 1,000 food pantries and agencies, working to address hunger in Arizona. Together, our network feeds almost one million people each year in all 15 counties in Arizona. We amplify the good work of these food banks by raising awareness about hunger, coordinating large food donations between food banks, and providing resources and education. We are not a food bank ourselves, but support food banks, collaborating with them and government agencies, community organizations, schools, and other partners to create a hunger-free Arizona.

AzFBN puts its mission into action by working with elected officials at the state and national levels to educate them on food policy issues that affect Arizonans, transporting and purchasing food in bulk for our member food banks, and partnering with schools and school districts, community organizations, and nonprofits to ensure kids get proper nutrition 3 times a day, 7 days a week, through school meals and summer meal programs. We also work on solutions for other at-risk populations, like seniors, college students, and rural Arizonans as well as serve in the statewide coordination during disaster situations to ensure adequate nutrition to those impacted; our most recent efforts being the coordination of the National Guard at food banks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit azfoodbanks.org for additional information.

For more than 40 years, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has provided support for scholarships, programs, and services on behalf of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges, skill centers and satellite centers. The Foundation plays an integral role in impacting not only the lives of more than 200,000 students, but also addresses the needs of local businesses and industries, and it paves the way for the Maricopa Community Colleges to become even more of an important resource in the community. Learn more at mcccdf.org.

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. Host to more than 24,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. MCC is transforming student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Nearly 50% of MCC students are the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The American Indian Institute serves students from 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes and out-of-state tribes. Our diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.