SRP Donates $25,000 to Area Food Banks

In light of area food banks reporting record levels of people seeking assistance, SRP has donated $25,000 to social service agencies across the Valley that provide food assistance to SRP customers and Valley residents.

The SRP funding will be distributed to seven nonprofit organizations that are currently experiencing an increase in requests for emergency and supplemental food assistance from the community. They are St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance ($5,000), United Food Bank ($5,000), The Salvation Army ($5,000), East Valley Senior Services ($2,500), Interfaith Cooperative Ministries ($2,500), Tempe Community Action Agency ($2,500) and the YWCA ($2,500).

"The current economic situation is putting more individuals and families in distress than at any other time in recent history, and we felt this could help these agencies meet that need," said Karen Fisch, manager of SRP Community Outreach. "In addition, we also wanted to focus on agencies that serve the elderly as well as families."

The $5,000 contribution to the United Food Bank will provide approximately 21,000 meals to East Valley families, said Donna Rodgers, UFB director of Resource Development. "This could not have come at a better time," Rodgers said.

The agencies were also chosen because of their strong relationship with SRP as well as the fact that SRP employees serve on some of their boards.

"The YWCA is grateful for SRP's contribution to our elder food program. It is critical that we provide meals to our seniors who are at a point in their lives where they desperately need our help," said YWCA Maricopa County CEO Dana Campbell Saylor. "These monies will assist in serving 120,000 meals annually, which represents a 20 percent increase in requests for services this year to date."

In addition to the contributions, SRP offers assistance to customers who are having difficulty paying their electric bill.

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