The need for food assistance in southern Arizona has doubled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To help provide food to our neighbors in need, Raytheon Technologies has committed $5 million to Feeding America to support local food banks.
This includes a donation of more than $319,000 to help the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona get food to people in need in the five counties it serves.
“Prior to COVID-19, 1 in 5 people in Arizona struggled with hunger, and 1 in 4 children,” said Michael McDonald, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. “Since COVID-19, we have seen more people who need food assistance for the first time, as layoffs and closures take effect. This adds to the already critical challenge of hunger and poverty in our area. We are proud to partner with Raytheon Technologies to provide meals to people struggling to put food on the table.”
The Community Food Bank continues to hold a drive-thru food distribution outside Kino Stadium on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7-10am to handle increased traffic and distribute food more quickly to people in need. The drive-thru distribution minimizes social contact to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, resource centers in Marana, Green Valley, Amado and Nogales are open and distributing food. This funding will help with increased food costs, and additional costs in continuing to operate drive thru and low-contact food distributions.
“The impact of COVID-19 on communities has been swift and unprecedented,” said Greg Hayes, CEO of Raytheon Technologies. “The communities where our employees live and work are in need, and it’s our responsibility to support our friends and neighbors during this crisis.” The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is one of 17 Feeding America® member food banks receiving donations from Raytheon Technologies. The company is helping to provide 50 million meals to people in need in communities across the country.
For more information about the Community Food Bank’s efforts to fight hunger during COVID-19, please visit www.communityfoodbank.org.
