MESA, Ariz. — The Mesa City Council has recently approved spending $5 million over the next three years to support United Food Bank in fighting food insecurity.
The funds will be allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act, federal legislation that distributed funds to cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mesa Mayor John Giles said this new deal with United Food Bank will benefit many local families who are still needing help three years after the pandemic first began.
At least one in six Arizonans is experiencing food insecurity, according to the city.
The funding will support the food bank's general operations and allow the organization to expand its mission by redeveloping its facilities.
In 2020, Mesa and United Food Bank worked together to deliver meals to over 66,000 local households.
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What is the Valley?
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?:
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
