Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) and Tempe Elementary School District are excited to announce a new and unique partnership to reduce food insecurity among Tempe families and their children. 26% of children in the City of Tempe are living in poverty – and poverty is a common indicator of food insecurity.

As part of the partnership, Tempe Elementary schools will host a collection contest from March 20 through 31. Each grade level is competing against the other grades and has been assigned a particular food item, including canned fruit, peanut butter, soup, 100% fruit juice, canned meat and mac & cheese. The donated items are being collected at each individual school.

“Tempe Elementary is excited to participate in this wonderful partnership to help assist our families in Tempe,” said Tempe Elementary Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Christine Trujillo. “When families have food for their children, our children are ready to come to school and learn!”

The food drive comes at an ideal time, as TCAA recently agreed to provide 30 food boxes each month to Family Resource Centers at Tempe elementary schools. TCAA stepped in to fill this need when previous food box funding from Thrive to Five was no longer available.

“Students and families benefit by learning more about TCAA so that they can connect with our array of programs in times of need,” notes Deborah Arteaga, TCAA executive director. “The food drives are also intended to help us fill the shelves in preparation for the summer months when our donations tend to drop.”

TCAA’s Food Pantry provides more than 40,000 food boxes to households in need each year – and 50% of the recipients are children.