Foothills Food Bank Celebrates Kiwanis Club of Carefree’s Generous Support of Kids

Published On: September 10, 2025
  • Kiwanis Funds Request Committee's presents Foodbank with grant check

Cave Creek, AZ  (September 10, 2025) – The Foothills Food Bank proudly announces the successful completion of its 2024–2025 Snack Pack and School Micro-Pantry program thanks to the generous support of the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, a service organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in our community.

With the Kiwanis investment, the food bank was able to distribute nearly  7,200 weekend snack packs and more than 36,000 pounds of food through school micro-pantries, providing school-aged children with consistent, nutritious food for weekends and school breaks.

This program ensures that no child faces a weekend hungry. By bridging the gap between Friday and Monday, as well as school breaks, snack packs alleviate hunger, and with full bellies, children can come back to class ready to learn, grow, and thrive.

Recognizing that stigma can be a barrier to accessing help, the food bank has also installed school-based micro-pantries (also known as food closets) in select schools. Stocked regularly with shelf-stable foods and snacks, these pantries are placed in nurses’ offices, counseling centers, or other discreet locations. Students can access these resources, packing single-serving, easy-open supplemental food into their backpacks, reducing the visual of a marked bag or box.

“Kiwanis’ mission is all about kids, and their generosity is fueling real change for families in our community,” said Leigh Zydonik, Executive Director of Foothills Food Bank. “Because of their support, we were able to exceed our goals, ensuring thousands of students are food secure throughout the school year. We are profoundly grateful to Kiwanis for their leadership and compassion,” she concluded.

The Foothills Food Bank’s new campus, which opened in the summer of 2025, has expanded the organization’s capacity to receive and distribute food, enabling it to better meet the growing demand. With demand up 17 percent over the same period last year, support from partners like the Kiwanis Club and the generosity of the community remain critical to sustaining this work.

For more information about the Foothills Food Bank’s youth programs, visit FoothillsFoodBank.com. Information about the Kiwanis club can be found at KiwanisCarefree.org.

Founded in 1988, Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center provides food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity as well as resources for other support services across a 200+ square mile area in North Maricopa and Southern Yavapai counties. For more information, visit FoothillsFoodBank.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Hours and locations of the food bank, pantries, and partnering centers can be found here. The food bank is a 501(c)(3) organization and a State of Arizona Department of Revenue Qualifying Charitable Organization, where your donation to the food bank becomes a tax credit and doesn’t cost you a dime. More info about the state tax credit can be found here.