Guard answers call at Valley food banks
Jackeline Reyes recently lost her job at a fast-food restaurant that was ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey to do drivethru service only, among other restrictions, as the new coronavirus swept across Arizona.
The Phoenix mother of two said her family now faces uncertainty and hardship, including difficulty putting food on the table. On Wednesday, she was among hundreds who received food from St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance with assistance from the Arizona National Guard.
“I’m very grateful this is being given to us,” she said, adding that she initially worried the food bank was closed like some businesses across the state.
St. Mary’s Food Bank President and
CEO Tom Kertis said it saw its normal amount of about 500 clients on Monday but experienced a dramatic increase the next day with about 1,200 clients. That increase has continued since then, he said.
“This is not for the average person who wants to restock their pantry. This is for people in need who don’t have enough money to get food on their shelves and don’t have the financial wherewithal to do that,” he said.
“A lot of times, they’re in the lower wage role, not always but many times, and don’t have a lot of savings and so we’re here for those people if they have a shortage of food and finances,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the food bank has also recently experienced about a 75% drop in volunteers, so assistance from the Arizona National Guard on Wednesday helped them immensely, Kertis said.
Less than a week ago, Ducey called on the Arizona National Guard to start helping grocery stores and food banks.
The citizen-soldiers helped pack the food bank’s monthly inventory of 45,000 emergency food boxes and distributed food to clients who arrived at its facility Wednesday near Thomas Road and 35th Avenue in Phoenix, Kertis said. He added that they’d be assisting at the food bank until at least Saturday.
“We’re thrilled to have them here; they’ve been able to supplement our workforce and so with having them here we’re able to continue to meet our mission,” said Kertis.
Signs at the food bank Wednesday reminded clients to practice social distancing in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations. It was organized to ensure one person at a time approached the building, where they were met with a volunteer or citizen-soldier who helped take items to their car.
“There’s a lot of people that need help and need supplies so I’m just happy I’m a part of that,” said Alondra Lopez, a volunteer at the food bank on Wednesday. She said they were each given gloves, told to wash their hands often and reminded to remain a safe distance away from others.
There were about 50 citizen-soldiers helping at the food bank Wednesday, said Arizona National Guard spokesperson David Nunn.
After Ducey ordered the Arizona National Guard to mobilize, leaders began working to pinpoint areas with the greatest needs, Nunn said.
“From a military standpoint, the biggest question was where the greatest need was and where can we most effectively push the National Guard that will not compete with civilian workforce,” he said.
Every day since Sunday, the National Guard has been assisting at various food banks, Nunn said. They hadn’t assisted at grocery stores as of Wednesday afternoon but would soon begin, he said.
Nunn had estimated that over 700 of its service members would be active at food banks and grocery stores by today.
Currently, the National Guard does not plan to be inside grocery stores or actively stocking its shelves, said Nunn. Instead, it would help move products from distribution centers to the back of grocery stores, where they will quickly unload, he said.
“Our mission right now is that surge of logistical support to bridge that gap, if you will, and that gap that I speak on is, you know, the shelves are empty but the warehouses and distribution centers are not,” Nunn explained.