PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Desert Mission Food Bank in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix is experiencing a surge in need this holiday season, serving hundreds of families daily and appealing for volunteers to help keep pace.
When Krystina Toscas became engagement manager about three and a half years ago, the pantry served roughly 140 households a day. Over the first two weeks of November, that number climbed to as many as 460 households daily, Toscas said. The numbers have eased slightly but the pantry still serves about 350 households a day as the holidays ramp up.
“Holidays historically are some of the busiest times for us,” Toscas said. “We cannot do this without volunteers.”
With Christmas decorations lining the walls and holiday music playing, Desert Mission’s Sunnyslope operation is working nonstop, distributing groceries and prepared boxes to families who face food insecurity. The effort relies heavily on volunteers to staff distribution, pack bags and help with logistics.
“I want to say people really came together in the community,” Toscas said, noting that volunteer participation often falls off after the holidays. “Where it starts to teeter off is in January and beyond.”
Desert Mission says it needs at least 30 volunteers every day to keep the operation running.
One longtime volunteer, Dr. Jack Poles, has been helping since 2017.
“I just do it to give back to the community,” Poles said. “There are a lot of people who will have food insecurity. Especially this time of the year, it’s extremely beneficial and heartwarming to be able to feed these people.”
Desert Mission is asking community members to sign up to volunteer during the holidays and into the new year to ensure families continue to receive assistance. To volunteer or learn more, contact Desert Mission through its website or its volunteer office.
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