Paz de Cristo Community Center in Mesa received a $25,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities in Fall 2025 to address growing food insecurity across the East Valley. The funding allows the organization to scale operations as it works toward providing more than 600,000 meals to 12,000 people this year.

“Thunderbirds Charities has invested in our community’s most vulnerable neighbors for more than a decade,” said Executive Director Jackie Shelley. “This grant helps us meet people where they are—whether that means providing emergency food assistance or connecting them with resources that create lasting stability.”

Since 2011, Thunderbirds Charities has contributed nearly $130,000 to Paz de Cristo’s operations. The current grant supports Our Relief Services to Empower Individuals with our food services being our largest program, including a weekly food box distribution that provide fresh produce, proteins, and shelf-stable items to families facing financial hardship, and a nightly meal served in their dining room every night of the year. All programs connect participants with case management and referral services.

Paz de Cristo Community Center

This grant is part of the Fall 2025 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.