Valley of the Sun United Way has awarded emergency grants totaling more than $400,000 to Maricopa County nonprofit organizations to provide meals to families, children and senior adults.
These grants are in response to shortages being faced in the community as a result of the significantly increased demands on local food banks, partners and programs due to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds being disrupted during the recent government shutdown. This sent a ripple effect through Valley communities where families found themselves without important resources to access food.
These emergency grants will fund local food banks and other partners who are helping to fill in the social safety net gaps created by the disruption in SNAP funds. This $400,000 is made possible due to a reorientation of United Way’s focus and budget earlier in the year to better address challenges to our community’s safety net and donations to United Way’s 100th Anniversary United for Our Future Fund launched in October. Half will be distributed immediately and the other half in early 2026.
The recipients of the grant funds include:
Aster Aging
AZCEND
Creighton Community Foundation
Desert Mission Food Bank
World Hunger Ecumenical
United Food Bank
St. Mary’s Food Bank
“Families across our community are feeling the very real impact of this disruption, and we cannot wait for the ripple effects to deepen,” said Carla Vargas Jasa, President & CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “Due to the generosity of early donors to our 100th anniversary campaign, Valley of the Sun United Way is able to act quickly at this time to help ensure no child or adult goes without food during this uncertain time.”
Additionally, to help overcome recent challenges caused by federal funding shifts, United Way will accelerate grant payments to food security and housing partners, providing $334,000 in funding now instead of in Spring 2026. And, this month United Way is also providing a $50,000 grant to Keys to Change for Project Connect events to help individuals experiencing homelessness.
More than 900,000 Arizonans rely on SNAP benefits each month, including nearly one in 10 Phoenix families. The suspension of benefits, even temporarily, has placed significant strain on food banks, schools, and other community safety-net programs.
Additionally, as Valley of the Sun United Way has done for 100 years, it’s also uniting the community to rally around local neighbors facing food insecurity through donations and its SNAP Into Action initiative. SNAP Into Action invites local companies, organizations, and individuals to help through:
• Snack-Pack Builds — Organize or participate in assembling snack packs for distribution to schools and shelters
• Food Drives — Host or contribute to food drives to help stock local pantries.
• Volunteer Opportunities — Join food packing and distribution efforts coordinated with food banks and community partners.
• Donations ‚— Those interested in making a significant investment to advance this work and be part of our 100th anniversary milestone are encouraged to contact Laura Kaiser, at lkaiser@vsuw.org.
“Even short gaps in SNAP benefits can create long-lasting impacts for families,” Vargas Jasa said. “Our role is to respond quickly, mobilize resources, and support the organizations that people rely on during moments like this. With this emergency funding and our SNAP Into Action initiative, we are reinforcing our mission to mobilize the caring power of our community.”
Valley residents and businesses can donate to United Way to support these efforts by visiting www.vsuw.org/donate.
Resources and information for families affected by the SNAP disruption, as well as ways to get involved, are available at www.vsuw.org/snapsupport. Families in need of food assistance or other essential services are also encouraged to call 2-1-1 Arizona, a free, 24-hour community resource line.
About Valley of the Sun United Way
Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life and in work. We are celebrating 100 years of uniting the Valley, with a focus on strengthening the local safety net and leading long-term solutions to systemic issues affecting Maricopa County in Health, Housing and Homelessness, Education and Workforce Development. We invite you to join us.
