United Food Bank Is Back To Single-Day Food Distributions
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The Mesa-based United Food Bank had begun distributing groceries twice a week as demand surged during the pandemic. The food bank is back to completing its weekly distributions in a single day.
United Food Bank reported in March that the number of families it served per week jumped from an average of 500 to 2,500. In response, the food bank started distributing groceries twice a week for up to six hours a day.
Vice President of External Affairs Tyson Nansel said that while United is still serving three times the amount of families they were accustomed to before the pandemic, the food bank is back to single-day distribution, serving 1,700 families in a span of five hours.
“Now we’re able to manage it in one day, we’re able to now manage the heat and the safety of our volunteers and staff and also continue to do it safer," said Nansel.
United Food Bank moved their distribution location to the Mesa Convention center when they partnered with the City of Mesa in March. Nansel said while grocery store aisles were empty, United was still able to serve the spike in families in need when Mesa Cares distributed a part of their COVID-19 relief funds to them in April.
The food bank is now distributing food to families every Friday from 7 a.m. to noon.
