February 24, 2016
Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center receives grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for building expansion
CAVE CREEK – The Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center is the recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust; the Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Ariz.
According to Foothills Food Bank executive director Pam DiPietro, the grant will help the construction of a 2,000-square-foot addition to the food bank, which will provide office space, a reception area and a designated location for the packing of meals for clients. The northern desert foothills food bank serves more than 450 families every month and the numbers continue to grow.
“It will cost between $350,000-$375,000 to build this much needed addition,” says DiPietro. “To date, we have raised $267,000 toward our goal but more is needed to accomplish our mission. The grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is very meaningful and we feel blessed beyond words. However, the food bank still needs an additional $100,000 to complete the addition so that we can serve the deserving people in our area.”
Recently, the food bank received additional assistance from donations related to the passing of Father Herb Hauck, who presided over Our Lady of Joy Church in Cave Creek, Ariz., and who passed away last March. In lieu of flowers, Hauck asked that people earmark their donations for the food bank for the addition. To date, more than $66,000 has been donated for the cause.
The addition will help better serve the huge base of children, seniors and families in the extended area. According to DiPietro, the food bank recently added a resource and education coordinator to handle the many needs of the food bank’s clients including food stamps (SNAP), health insurance (AHCSS), medical and job training assistance and other needs that reach beyond the need for food during difficult transitional times. The food bank’s current reception and packing area will be used for new refrigeration needs and the warehousing of food.
For information, call the Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center at 480.488.1145. The Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center is located at 6038 E. Hidden Valley Drive in Cave Creek.
