Mission:  

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At United Food Bank (UFB), our mission is simple: to unite communities to alleviate hunger. Since 1983, UFB has provided millions of low-income, food-insecure individuals with nutritious food across its vast 19,608-square-mile service area, including some of Arizona's most remote regions. Through a collaborative network of community partners, donors, and volunteers, UFB helps ensure that all Arizonans have access to nutritious foods during their most vulnerable moments.

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What are your organization’s goals for the next year? How will you measure success?

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In 2024, UFB’s partners served an average of 100,000 neighbors each month—a number projected to grow in 2025. To meet this rising need, UFB is expanding its Grocery Rescue Program, which aims to reduce food waste while delivering nutritious food to the community. By 2030, the program seeks to rescue 30 million pounds of food (up from 26.9 million in 2024), ensuring more meals reach those in need rather than go to landfills.

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How would you use this grant to improve the local community in a meaningful way?

 

In 2024, UFB’s Grocery Rescue Program rescued and redistributed over 13,439,176 pounds of fresh food that would have otherwise been wasted in landfills. By recovering nutritious items like produce, meat, and shelf-stable goods from over 200 retail partners, UFB reduces food waste while ensuring that those in need have access to healthy meals to feed their families. 

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Is there anything else you’d like the review committee of employee-owners to know? 

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Food waste is a major barrier to food insecurity. Feeding America reports that around 92 billion pounds of edible food are wasted yearly in the US, with Arizona discarding about $9.5 billion worth annually. Meanwhile, one in eight Arizonans faces food insecurity. As one grateful recipient shared, “Thank you so much for helping me put a more complete meal on the table for my family.”​​​