United Way of Northern Arizona — Partner Spotlight: Volunteers, Food Donations Needed at Flagstaff Family Food Center

Partner Spotlight: Volunteers, Food Donations

Needed at Flagstaff Family Food Center

Hello,

During this season of giving, we’d like to ask you to consider donating your time (and maybe a few non-perishable items) to the Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC), a UWNA partner that has served thousands of our neighbors when they were at their most vulnerable.

The organization, which opened its doors on Christmas Day exactly 30 years ago, has provided meals through its daily hot dinner and sack lunches at its kitchen on North 2nd Street, or through its Food Bank on Huntington Drive.

Like many organizations, FFFC had to handle two big challenges throughout the pandemic: a dramatic increase in demand for services and a simultaneous loss of volunteers as they asked their senior-aged helpers to stay home for their safety. That gap in workers was filled temporarily by the National Guard, which is now transitioning out, leaving FFFC in need of more volunteers during this busy season.

You can learn more about volunteer opportunities here.

FFFC is also always happy to receive your gift of nonperishable food. In fact, with the City of Flagstaff, it has a campaign going on right now to create “giving advent boxes.” It’s like a reverse advent calendar; instead of getting a daily holiday treat, you take a box and fill it each day with one food item. Then bring your filled box to the FFFC kitchen on Dec. 21.

Thank you for sharing your holiday spirit with our local food center.

Time is Running Out:

‘Gingerbeach’ Raffle Drawing Dec. 13

You have less than a week left to get your raffle tickets for a chance to win this marvelous gingerbread house with a twist from Little America Hotel.

Santa’s beachside vacation home is courtesy of Pastry Chef Vanessa Ronspiesis, whose edible creation features a main “gingerbeach” house, boathouse, and shoreline with candy sea creatures.

Using 52 cups of powdered sugar, 41 cups of flour, 35 egg whites and 51 pounds of candy, it took Vanessa more than 33 hours over the course of 8 weeks to construct Santa’s retreat.

All proceeds go to United Way of Northern Arizona, so get your tickets and Step Up for Our Community today.

Tickets are $5 each, 6 for $25, 12 for $50, 24 for $100 and 48 for $200. The lucky raffle winner will be chosen on Dec. 13.