100+ Volunteers Pack 2,600+ Meal Boxes in Phoenix Food Drive

Over 100 volunteers turned a Phoenix food bank into a buzzing hub of kindness on Monday, packing meal boxes at record speed to help families put food on their tables.

The Fiesta Sports Foundation launched its annual "Kindness Arizona" week at St. Mary's Food Bank, where volunteers challenged themselves to beat the two-hour packing record of 36 pallets. That's 2,592 boxes full of meals for families struggling with food insecurity.

Kristina Chumpol, chief impact officer with Fiesta Sports Foundation, says the timing couldn't be more critical. "We know that this community needs us," she explained as volunteers worked around her.

The statistics tell a sobering story. One in five children in Arizona needs food assistance right now.

"If a kid is hungry, we need to start there," Chumpol said. "St. Mary's is doing that in such a real way."

The volunteers represented multiple nonprofit organizations, turning the packing session into a friendly competition. Each team worked to fill boxes faster while maintaining care and precision with every meal packed.

The Ripple Effect

This kickoff event sparks just the beginning of a week dedicated to spreading kindness across the Valley. The foundation has planned service projects throughout the week, including cleaning up the Verde River in Tonto National Forest and hosting youth workshops at Alhambra High School.

Volunteers will also surprise coffee shop customers by paying for their drinks and partner with the Arizona Humane Society to help animals in need. Each project targets a different community need, from environmental care to education to animal welfare.

The foundation focuses on three core areas: youth, sports, and education. Chumpol explains that addressing hunger creates the foundation for everything else these programs aim to accomplish.

When children have full bellies, they can focus on learning, playing, and growing. St. Mary's Food Bank makes that possible for thousands of Arizona families every single day.

The volunteers who showed up Monday morning demonstrated that small acts and large acts both matter equally when communities come together.