The Food Assistance Fund
“I am pursuing a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Special Education. With a child of my own who has autism, I see the need for special education teachers. I would like the opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives, as my son’s teachers did in his. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies and help me prepare for my day. I will be able to purchase food for myself and allow my body to gain more healthy nutrition. Which in return, will help me build healthy living skills and promote more motivation to complete my academic goals. Going back to college as an adult is a challenge when you are paying out of pocket and working full-time. I appreciate this opportunity to focus on my educational journey.”
Stories like Daniella’s, a student at Rio Salado College, are far too common.
In a national Hope Center #RealCollege survey conducted in 2023, 43% of the 6,000 Maricopa Community Colleges students who responded indicated that they experienced limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire food in a socially acceptable manner.
Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has been working diligently with all 10 colleges to turn the tide on the issue of hunger and food insecurity among our student population so they can focus on completing their classwork, versus focusing on where they are going to get their next meal. When students are hungry, their ability to learn, persist, and graduate is put at risk.
We invite you to stand with our students and fuel their futures with your generosity.
A gift today supports:
- Stocking college campus food pantries
- Emergency grocery cards for students in crisis
- Critical relief to help students stay enrolled and succeed
Your donation is more than a meal—it’s stability, dignity, and the chance for students to stay focused on their education.