Feed a Kid, Change a Life, Make a Difference

The Creighton Community Foundation is a non-profit organization in the South/Central Phoenix area. The foundation works with the Creighton School District schools to cultivate a sense of school-centered identity, foster neighbor interactions, and increase social capacity to improve relational community supports surrounding our developing children. Our goal is to create beneficial adult relationships in the lives of children to promote accountability and a sense of belonging. Developing trust and community can tremendously affect the well-being of the kids whose parents and family members work full-time jobs. 

In addition, we help to connect these families to the resources they need to provide nutrient-dense and healthful foods for their children on any budget. As a basic necessity, food should be a right, not a luxury! No kid deserves to go hungry because of their living or domestic situation. We hold events and information booths that aid in the registration process for SNAP/EBT benefits and connect families with opportunities to get the most out of their benefits. Such as CSA programs where SNAP/EBT credits can be used to purchase locally sourced and organic produce, among other nutritious food items.

Furthermore, we host food distributions where we work with local food banks to put together food boxes for families in need. Five dollars can feed a kid for a week with the packed food boxes! Just in case all of the good we do hasn't resonated with you yet, we also do our part in reducing food waste in Arizona! The Creighton Community Foundation houses food pantries in the area restocked by rescued almost expired groceries from local grocers. This way, food that would have been otherwise thrown away and wasted is distributed and consumed!

The foundation has been building community gardens across Creighton to improve food access, vibrancy, and relational development. Two years ago, we started a community garden in underutilized space along the canal on 36th street and Roosevelt. We are expanding to a second site along the canal at 18th Street and Osborn. Both in neighborhoods where food security is unstable and connections with neighbors struggle in the fast-paced urban environment. Our goal was to connect to the community with a place that inspires us to connect to our roots, figuratively and literally. To bring resiliency to neighborhoods that are 65% below the poverty line and empower them to be sustainable. Community gardens are hard to maintain volunteer enthusiasm when time and resources are limited. The desire is there but not always the skill. We secure the resources and inspire the community with the one element that crosses all generations, cultures, and statuses: Food! 

This month, we ask you to join us in creating safe places to explore, learn and connect to our most vulnerable communities by helping us develop more gardens.