By Linda Kor The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of every American and with so many people out of work, one of the greatest impacts has grown worse: hunger. Working to battle that impact, organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank have provided healthy foods to cities and towns in need and those lines have grown longer. Prior to the pandemic, the number of families in Arizona experiencing food insecurity, which is defined as the lack of consistent access to adequate healthy food, had been steadily reducing. But now, as economic instability and a health crisis takes over, new estimates point to some of the worst rates of food insecurity in the United States in years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, prior to the pandemic, Navajo County had from 20 to 29 percent of its families facing food insecurity. To meet the need last year St. Mary’s Food Bank and 28 agency partners distributed over 4.8 million pounds of food to county residents. Now with the increased need, more community organizations are stepping up to ensure the people in their towns have access to healthy food. Although data is not yet available for 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.7 million households (or 10.5 percent) in the U.S. experienced food insecurity at some time during the year. That means 35.2 million people lived in food-insecure households. In Navajo County, school districts ensure that children are provided free or low-cost meals but many adults in these households will eat less healthy or skip meals altogether. Local food banks, churches and civic organizations have partnered with food providers to bring fresh vegetables, canned goods and other necessities. Some offerings include non-food items such as dog food and toiletries, which allow the money saved to be spent on food. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the offers within Navajo County. Locally, food boxes are being provide in these communities: Holbrook Food boxes provided depending on supply at the Bread of Life Mission, located at 885 Hermosa Drive. Call (928) 524-3874 for more information on availability. Walk-ins served. No referral required. Food boxes available from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday. Commodities are available from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Holbrook Emergency Food Bank, located at 216 Joy Nevin Ave. Call (928) 524-6044 for more information. Walk-ins served. No referral required. Photo identification and proof of address required. Must meet poverty guidelines. Food co-op boxes available from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Wednesday and Saturday, at Operation Love First Baptist Church, located at 360 N. First St. Call (928) 524-2555 for more information. No referral required; walk-ins served. Joseph City Food boxes available at the Joseph City Foundation Food Pantry, located at the corner of Bushman Avenue and Second Avenue. Available to Joseph City residents only. Visit Joseph City Foundation on Facebook for times and dates. Snowflake Shepherd’s Kitchen Food Bank, located at 344 W. 4th St., is open from 12 to 3:20 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Winslow Food boxes available at the St. Mary’s Food Bank at First United Methodist Church, located at 101 E. Hillview St. Visit the Winslow Rotary Club Facebook page for times and dates. Food boxes available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at Birdsprings Chapter House, located at State Route 99 and Navajo Nation Route 15. Walk-ins served. No referral required. Call (928) 686-3266 for more information. Food boxes available from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Winslow Council on Aging Active Adult Community Center, located at 212 E. Second St. Call (928) 289-3341 for more information. Winslow residents only. Proof of residency required. Dilkon Food boxes available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the third Saturday and Sunday of the month at Runningelk Ministries, located at Navajo Route 60, mile marker 9.8. Walk-ins welcome, no referral required. Contact Dillon at (505) 918-4006 for more information.
