By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
The City of Mesa and United Food Bank are expanding the Feed Mesa Program that aims to help households in need because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program offers groceries to families and residents in need groceries. The effort is based at the Mesa Convention Center (263 North Center Street).
The community effort is expanded with food distributed on Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Social distancing protocols are in place throughout the process of residents driving up and food placed in their trunks by a volunteer.
“Expanding food distribution makes it easier for our residents to get the groceries they need,” Mayor John Giles said. “We have partnered with the United Food Bank and shifted operations indoors to protect perishables and volunteers from rising temperatures while delivering fresh food directly to the trunks of awaiting cars.”
The Coronavirus has cost scores of jobs in the East Valley and across the country. That is increasing the need for community and social services.
“We have seen the need for food in our community more than quadruple since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With food now being distributed twice a week, we will get groceries to our clients more efficiently,” said United Food Bank President and CEO Dave Richins.
Mesa and the food bank plan on operating the expanded program, Feeding Mesa is funded by the federal CARES Act to help mitigate the economic and social impacts of the virus.
