For Arizona families facing hardship, the holiday season can be particularly challenging. Organizations like St. Mary’s Food Bank are stepping up to provide vital support, and initiatives such as ABC15’s Operation Santa Claus play a crucial role in amplifying their efforts. This year, St. Mary’s Food Bank is one of the key partners in Operation Santa Claus, working to spread holiday cheer and essential resources to families in need across Arizona.
Volunteers are the backbone of St. Mary’s Food Bank, and individuals like Steve Anderson exemplify the dedication that drives the organization. After retiring from a successful corporate career in 2020, Anderson found a new sense of purpose volunteering at the food bank in Phoenix. By 2022, feeling restless and seeking a way to contribute, Anderson was inspired by news reports highlighting the critical work of St. Mary’s Food Bank volunteers.
“I retired in 2020 and ran out of all my to-dos by 2022,” Anderson recounted. Witnessing the dedication of St. Mary’s Food Bank volunteers motivated him to get involved. “I thought it’d be a great time to contribute. I came down, met a lot of great people, and had a great time and I’ve continued doing it,” he explained. Now, Anderson is a lead volunteer, dedicating two shifts a day, four days a week. His commitment is focused on assisting families grappling with food insecurity.
Anderson’s experience at St. Mary’s Food Bank has provided him with a profound understanding of the daily struggles faced by many families. He witnesses firsthand the silent anxieties of parents and children seeking assistance. “You see a lot of kids in the cars with their parents, and you can see different looks in their eyes. But when you’re getting food, it really makes a difference in their daily lives,” Anderson observed.
The scale of St. Mary’s Food Bank’s operations is remarkable. Each day, the food bank distributes food boxes to a record-breaking 1,700 families. For many of these families, St. Mary’s Food Bank represents a critical lifeline, providing essential food items they would otherwise go without.
“It breaks your heart because so many families are struggling. The fact that St. Mary’s can bridge that gap for food, especially for the children, is heartwarming,” Anderson expressed. He emphasizes that the work of St. Mary’s Food Bank extends beyond simply providing food; it’s about restoring dignity and showing compassion to those in need. “There are folks living out of their cars, and during the summer, most of those cars don’t have AC. It’s a struggle. You see them come up, cars breaking down. Anything we can do to make their experience a little better and just treat them as human beings,” he added. Anderson believes that every volunteer shift serves as a reminder of the powerful impact of small acts of kindness within the community.
Operation Santa Claus, in partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank and other Arizona charities, aims to amplify this community support during the holiday season. This annual tradition collects canned food, unwrapped toys, children’s clothing, and monetary donations. These contributions directly benefit organizations like St. Mary’s Food Bank, Special Olympics Arizona, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), Military Assistance Mission (MAM), and Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC), ensuring that holiday joy reaches families across Arizona.
To find out more about how you can contribute to Operation Santa Claus and support St. Mary’s Food Bank this holiday season, please visit GivetotheClaus.com. Your generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of Arizona families in need.
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