The numbers are staggering. Arizona leads the country in producing food waste. Still, hundreds of thousands go hungry. Bridging the gap between excess and the people in need is difficult and it takes effort. That’s where organizations like the United Food Bank come in.Â
Since the mid-1980s, the team and volunteers at United Food Bank have made it their mission to get food to those who need it, especially in the more remote areas of Arizona. Doing that requires collaboration with more than 150 organizations and partner agencies.
In November’s Project Greenprint Impact Feature, STN got an up-close look at those collaboration efforts.
We captured United Food Bank teaming up with the Arizona Cardinals for a food drive at State Farm Stadium and Verizon joining the fight against hunger and helped United Food Bank and the Cardinals provide food to more than 200 families at Mesa’s Eisenhower Elementary School.
Watch the Project Greenprint Impact Feature story
FEELING INSPIRED?
Watch the full November episode
Action Panelists
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Ginger John
Communications Manger
United Food Bank
Horace Raymond
Dir. of Community Relations
Arizona Cardinals
Becca Gilbert
Food Drive Manger
United Food Bank
Addressing need
 One in four children in the [Phoenix] area that United Food Bank services suffers from food insecurity. One in six people. One in eight seniors. Every dollar that people donate, every food drive they host, every volunteer hour that they offer, it all makes a huge difference. The more people the better because then we’ll have a bigger impact.
Team effort
 We’ve been working with the Cardinals for over 20 years as a community partner. They are absolutely amazing. They donate. They volunteer time. They do food drives. They really make such a huge impact.Â
 We’re just really grateful for everything that the Cardinals fans, the Cardinals team, what they do as a whole. They are so generous. We really couldn’t do it without them. They’re not just helping United Food Bank, they’re helping so many different people in the community.
High visibility
 There are a lot of people in need. There’s a lot of hurt. Obviously, there are resources that we can tap into being that we are the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. We have some visibility. We can shed light on some things that really increase awareness, when those individuals come out and actually contribute to what it is we’re doing.
 It’s a beautiful thing. We rely on our fan base for a lot of support in a lot of ways, and this is a feel-good for all and we’re actually getting some data-driven results by this.
Winning game plan
 The goal is to really help and really support and be a vessel through which we can really increase awareness and support on a super high-level. Maximum visibility. The most popular sport in the country.
 We want to do something with that. It’s not just about the field. It’s off the field. It’s in the community, being a responsible partner, and actually leading in the space. When we can align with individuals that are in that same vein, it’s a beautiful connection and we can increase awareness and increase outreach.
Rising food costs
 It is extraordinarily important for us to have food drives and have food to give out to the community. Prices are increasing. It’s harder to afford food for the average person, especially those on fixed incomes.
 Being able to provide food for those who are in need is one of the most important things we can do right now.
Powerful partnership
 Having the NFL and the Cardinals behind United Food Bank helps get the message out to the community to those who might not see it otherwise. People may not know of United Food Bank if they’re not really thinking about food insecurity. With the Cardinals and the NFL helping us out is definitely reaching a wider audience.
