Stories by Ray Newton
APS, the largest electric utility in Arizona, contributed more than $10 million annually to worthy community organizations and programs. Arizona Public Service often gives directly to hungry and homeless.
Such service is especially true in Yavapai and Coconino and portions of Navajo and Apache counties. APS serves 1.3 million customers in 11 Arizona counties.
Tina Marie Tentori, APS Director of Community Affairs, Phoenix headquarters, said combatting hunger and ensuring food security are important focus areas within one of the APS strategic pillars — human needs and services.
APS supports Prescott Meals on Wheels, the Coalition for Compassion and Justice, Prescott U.S. Vets, Flagstaff Shelter Services, Flagstaff Family Food Center and Housing Solutions for Northern Arizona. Others are Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Area Agency for Aging and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Tentoria said APS employees statewide had contributed more than $44,000 to the Arizona Food Bank Network, which provides more than 4.6 million pounds of food or 3.6 million meals.
APS Media Relations Manager Jill Hanks described help APS provides to central and northern Arizona families.
She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Central and Northern Arizona, an organization that APS and its employees endorse. Hanks said from Jan.1 to Nov.30, 2021, the Roald McDonald House provided housing — two places in Phoenix and one in Mesa — for families whose children had to receive medical treatment at a hospital at least 30 miles from their homes.
That support gave 138 families from four central and northern Arizona counties 1,915 nights of housing valued at $107 a night:
• 47 families in Yavapai County,
677 nights
• 18 families in Coconino County,
410 nights
• 51 families in Navajo County,
699 nights
• 25 families in Apache County,
129 nights
Hanks said APS supports through the Ronald McDonald House of Central and Northern Arizona the “Dinnertime Heroes,” a project that provides meals for these families.
Both Tentori and Hanks said interested people can apply once a calendar year for various forms of support. Applications must be filed Feb.1 to Oct. 15. Details about support available and criteria for applying are available online at
www.aps.com/en/about/community/in-the-community/community-impact-grants.
APS cooperates with Yavapai Food Neighbors to support hungry and homeless people throughout central and northern Arizona through the collection of food. The “green bag “collection program such as this one collected by APS was at a Prescott westside Walmart shopping center on Dec. 13.
