Public food distribution hits milestone

For immediate release
Contact: Krista Cardona 480-416-9640
krista@hof.5proofs.com

MESA, AZ — A new public food distribution site in east Mesa, helping families and individuals experiencing food insecurity, passed out its 1000th box of food Friday morning.

House of Refuge, Inc., in partnership with the City of Mesa and Midwest Food Bank, became a site for public food distribution on May 14 as part of the Mesa CARES Initiative, to meet the growing community need for food security resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The site distributes boxes every Thursday and Friday morning and averages 200 boxes every week. 

House of Refuge executive director Nancy Marion was excited to begin offering this service to the community, describing it as a way to give back.

“We were a little slow in the beginning but knew that there was great need all over the East Valley,” said Marion. “As soon as word got out that families and individuals could come to a location within a few miles of their home and get fresh produce, milk and items to make complete meals in their homes, traffic definitely picked up. Though unfortunate that there is such need out there, we’re so thankful that we’re here to help these families out.”

House of Refuge provides transitional housing to families experiencing homelessness. The food distribution is a new program for the agency and, according to Marion, will become a permanent part of their programming and will continue for the foreseeable future.

The distribution is contactless. Individuals interested in food items are encouraged to drive up and remain in their vehicles while staff and volunteers place boxes of food in the trunk. No verification or I.D. is required. The distribution takes place every Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. at House of Refuge, 6935 E. Williams Field Rd., Mesa. 

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