Nourish Phoenix provides vital lifeline in Valley of the Sun
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Nourish Phoenix, a food and clothing bank fighting poverty in the Valley since 1983, raised more than $100,000 at its fourth annual ‘Beyond the Pantry’ event this past Tuesday.
The funds raised will help support families in the Valley by providing nutritious food boxes, clothing items, hygiene kits, medical services and workforce development courses, according to a press release.
Beyond the Pantry, hosted at St. Francis Xavier, Anderson Hall, highlighted the efforts of NourishPHX over the past year, honored volunteers, hosted clients who shared their experiences at NourishPHX, and presented a cooking demonstration using only the contents of a NourishPHX food box, the release states.
During the ‘Think Inside the Box’ cooking demonstration, Chef Tee Williams, executive chef of the Crepe Bar, used only the ingredients in a NourishPHX food box to prepare squash-marinated grilled chicken with street corn and veggies.
The goal of the demonstration was to showcase the fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients presented in the NourishPHX food boxes and debunk the myth that food boxes only have canned goods.
One of the most impactful client testimonies came from Timothy Garrett.
As a former client of NourishPHX, Mr. Garrett shared his story of resilience and newfound hope. After losing his partner in 2019, Tim fell into a depression resulting in the loss of his home and job.
At this time, he needed more support than ever which was when he found NourishPHX. Here he was able to get help preparing for job interviews, received professional clothing and a substantial meal. Thanks to the support of NourishPHX, Mr. Garrett says he was able to get a job and fully recover. He now returns as a volunteer to give back and create new opportunities for those who need it most.
This year, NourishPHX has more than 2,275 volunteers donating their time to support the organization which totals $737,130 worth of time. NourishPHX is eligible for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, this is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit up to $841 for joint filers.
