What happens when a food pantry becomes a community hub for learning, cooking, and connection? A kitchen that does a lot more than cook Local First Arizona manages four community kitchens in Mesa, Phoenix, and Glendale, with two more under construction. Each kitchen combines food pantry services, nutrition education for kids and adults, and on-site community gardening. The goal is simple: make healthy food and cooking skills more accessible in food-insecure communities, especially for children learning
In 2025, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) poured more than $6 million back into communities across the state, supporting efforts to build a healthier, stronger Arizona. These reinvestments showed up where it mattered most – helping put food on the table for families facing hunger, funding scholarships to train the next generation of healthcare workers, and protecting communities during extreme heat – reaching neighborhoods, schools, and the everyday places people turn for help. “We believe