1st ‘Family Fun Day’ event to benefit food bank Saturday

By Michelle Trujillo

Maricopa Pantry, a local nonprofit food bank, will throw its inaugural “Family Fun Day” this weekend.

Music, a bounce house, dunk tank, food and beverages, as well as vendor tables will be available to attendees to peruse on Saturday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event, sponsored by Mountain View Community Church, will take place at the church located a few miles southwest of Maricopa at 50881 W. Papago Road.

Jim Shoaf has operated the food bank since 2016 and said money raised at the event will help volunteers provide more food to the community. Funds raised will also help the organization begin a maintenance schedule on the food bank’s equipment and assist in getting refrigeration units running.

Maricopa Pantry provides not only food to local families in need, Shoaf said, but other commodities and essential needs.

“We do what we do because of our love for God and mankind,” Shoaf added.

The food bank operates most Saturdays at the church and at the Maricopa Unified School District Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

For food bank schedule updates, like the Maricopa Pantry Facebook Page.