Started as an outreach ministry of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Paz de Cristo brought community and faith leaders together to pool financial and human resources to address the growing homeless crisis of the time.
On September 15, 1988, staff and volunteers served our first nightly meal service to 12 people experiencing homelessness.
In 1994, the ministry had outgrown the current facility – a little yellow house on Country Club – and the current site at Broadway and Country Club was secured. On January 15, 1995, the first meals were served from the new dining facility.
In 2007, Paz’s leaders determined that the organization could grow to serve more people if it was a 501c3 nonprofit, and in 2008 Paz de Cristo Community Center was granted this designation by the IRS.
In the last 35+ years, Paz de Cristo has helped more than 50,000 people and has served more than 2,000,000 meals though our nightly meal service.
Programs have been expanded to include food boxes, a clothing bank, showers and haircuts, and assistance connecting to essential documents and services to uplift people experiencing poverty and homelessness as they work to improve their lives.
Caring, generous donors and volunteers are the heart and soul that fuel Paz de Cristo’s efforts. Thanks to you, Paz has become an integral part of the network of services for people in need in the East Valley.
YOU make all the difference on the mission to be More Than a Meal…We Feed, Clothe and Empower.
Of every dollar given to Paz de Cristo, 87 cents goes directly to help people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness.