PHOENIX—Gas prices have risen and are directly hitting non-profits supplying food in the

Phoenix area, making operators consider other modes of food transportation.

Food organizations have taken evasive action to combat gas prices, enlisting volunteers to use
their vehicles to transport food and provide funds to help the people they serve pay their rent.
 
“The bigger impact right now for food banks is probably inflation and the rising cost of gas,”
said Jerry Brown, director of public relations at St. Mary’s Food Bank. “Everything is more
expensive and harder for the food bank to receive.”
 
According to AAA, the average gas price in Phoenix as of April 2022 was $4.56 per gallon
compared to $3.06 in April 2021. These increases have been driven by the outstanding effects of
the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
 
St. Mary’s Food Bank has served nine of the 15 counties in the state of Arizona since 1967,
providing food to people across the valley. In recent months, however, the food bank has focused
funds to help recipients pay rent, giving them money instead of food.
 
For the first three months of 2022, St. Mary’s has averaged around 20,000 gallons of fuel per
month, said Brown. Food trucks from the non-profit have driven 1 million miles in Arizona
every year.
 
St. Mary’s is not alone in its challenges, as another non-profit food organization has experienced
the same problems.
 
Wastenot was founded in 1987 when terms such as “food insecurity” were not yet common
knowledge. 

It works hard by providing food to recipients such as other non-profit organizations, food
pantries, churches that double as food pantries, senior living facilities, and TLCs (Transitional
Living Communities).

Wastenot never keeps food overnight or for long periods. The food is always delivered, and
drivers end with empty trucks and cargo areas.

They have employed the help of volunteer drivers to help combat the cost of gas prices,
introducing a program in 2020 allowing volunteers to use their cars to transfer food to reduce gas
usage.
 
“It’s hurting us a little bit, but we are well padded, we are super grateful for a good donor base
who knows that our primary work requires fuel, and they continue to donate,” said Sarah Grone,
the communications and marketing consultant for Wastenot. “We’re just being extra mindful,
maybe going through our routes and making sure that we are using our trucks really efficiently.”
In addition, Wastenot has refrigerated trucks located at their home base in Scottsdale. The non-
profit employs four truck drivers that deliver food across the valley every day; they are paid by
the hour.

A driver for Wastenot, Tim Hunt, argued that gas is essential for the non-profit he serves. “The
increases in prices over the last several months have definitely made an impact.”
 
According to Hunt, most drivers visit a QT gas station near their home base to gas up their trucks
before making deliveries. 

Hunt states that the trucks that Wastenot uses to transport the food across the valley use
approximately 8 miles a gallon. “Generally, at least every 48 hours we have to gas up.”

“Oh, there’s a lot of things I like about it,” Hunt says when asked what he likes about the job.
“We definitely cater to a wide variety of people that really benefit from this and everybody’s
really grateful, really appreciative and I find that really makes the job rewarding and fulfilling.”

Wastenot and St. Mary’s food bank continue to face challenges with the increasing gas prices.
However, there is hope as some things can be done to help the matter, such as paying more
attention to what route is faster, relying on the help of volunteers, and determining how much gas
will be needed to make the trip. 

Source List:

Sarah Grone
Communications and Marketing Consultant, Wastenot
(650) 520-6500

Tim Hunt
Driver, Wastenot
(480) 292-3970

Jerry Brown
Director of Public Relations, St. Mary’s Food Bank
Direct Line: (602) 343-3160
Cell: (602) 684-0939

St. Mary’s Food Bank

“Filling hungry stomachs for 55 Years!”
https://www.firstfoodbank.org/about/

AAA
“Arizona Average Gas Prices”
https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=AZ

The New York Times

“Rising Gas Prices Have Drivers Asking, ‘Is This For Real?’”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/business/high-gas-prices.html