One in nine Arizonans faces food insecurity. The problem is not just about food, but how a lack of access to it affects other areas of people’s lives. When this need is not met, it prevents them from thriving personally, professionally and emotionally.
A Delicious Partnership
North Star Youth Partnership, a program of Catholic Charities, empowers all youth to be healthy, self-assured and involved in their communities through recreational, leadership and service-learning opportunities. One of the simplest but most critical ways to support these youth is to provide them with easy access to nutritious snacks.
To support this mission, North Star began partnering with the Resident Services team at Catholic Charities’ affordable housing communities in Phoenix, Ariz. Resident Services works with St. Mary’s Food Bank to offer a mobile food pantry to those living in the community.
North Star Ensures Access to Healthy Snacks
With the help of Resident Services and St. Mary’s, North Star is able to provide snacks and drinks to youth participating in Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL). PAL helps teens learn skills through peer helping, leadership, mentoring, conflict resolution and community service.
PAL participants are encouraged to eat and refuel as they learn. Any excess food items are made available for the students to take home.
Students Show Their Gratitude
When Nadia, a student at St. Louis the King Catholic School, received apples as a snack, she gratefully brought the extras home to share with her four siblings. “We really like fruit, but don’t have it often. This will be a real treat for us all,” she said.
Together, North Star Youth Partnership and the Catholic Charities Resident Services team hope to ease some of the stress for families enduring food insecurity. This season, over 545 food items were donated to more than 65 teens and family groups. However, more help is always needed and appreciated.
Support North Star and Get Involved
You can support the efforts of North Star Youth Partnership by making individual donations, purchasing from our Amazon Wish List or making a tax credit donation.
If you’re interested in adding a PAL group at your school and helping youth to be healthy and self-assured, contact Christine Williams, PAL Facilitator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
