Maricopa Pantry Achieves Milestone: 3.1M Pounds of Food Distributed in 2024

On July 27, 2024, Jim Shoaf addressed volunteers at the Maricopa Food Pantry, highlighting the organization’s remarkable achievements over the past year. The food bank has made significant strides, providing over 3.1 million pounds of food to residents of Pinal County, a record amount compared to previous years.

This volume of food is sufficient to sustain more than 1,500 adults with three meals daily for an entire year. Since its inception in 2004, the Maricopa Food Pantry has demonstrated impressive growth, distributing 2.8 million pounds in 2022, followed by 2.9 million pounds in 2023. Shoaf, the founder and CEO, regards this ongoing expansion as “a blessing.”

“It seems like every six months, there’s another milestone for us,” Shoaf remarked. He emphasized the pantry’s dual role in not only providing nourishment but also offering emotional support and community connection. Over 313,000 individuals from 96,000 households benefited from the pantry’s services in 2024, with families regularly relying on assistance, especially during holiday periods.

As the demand increases, so does the need for volunteers and financial contributions. Alice Shoaf, the Vice President, pointed out a particular shortfall: non-perishable food items. “We can always use help like that because that’s the kind of food we don’t get a lot of,” she explained. While the pantry receives ample fresh and frozen foods, staples such as rice, beans, and boxed goods are often in short supply outside of the holiday season.

The success of the Maricopa Food Pantry underscores the critical role it plays in the community, meeting both immediate food security needs and fostering a sense of solidarity among residents.