OURHISTORY

The year was 1988.

It was against a backdrop of pop culture, technological breakthroughs, exploding population growth, politics, and commerce that a new ministry outreach was born: Paz de Cristo.

2008

Paz de Cristo becomes a separate 501(c)3, nonprofit organization in October.

2018

Marc Community Resources Office with Three Navigators Opens On-Site in March.

New, Refrigerated Truck Enables Transportation of Fresh and Frozen Foods.

Mail Service is Now Available.

Arizona Identification and Birth Certificates Equip People to Find Jobs.

Guests Gain Access to Free Professional Clothing and Casual Wear.

Free Haircuts by Licensed Cosmetologists and Barbers are Offered.

New Shower Program Begins.

2015

Paz Facilities Receive Major Upgrades in November.

2015

New Hope Garden Supplies Fresh Herbs and Vegetables in April.

2014

Paz Participates in the Mesa Mayor’s “Housing Our Heroes” Campaign in July.

2014

Jobs Program Begins in March.

1988

1988

Ronald Reagan was President.

2005

Nurse Judy and the Mobile Medical Clinic give access to medical care.

1994

The first meal in the new facility was a breakfast served on January 15, 1994. The blessing and dedication of the buildings was on February 12, 1994.

1993

Paz soon outgrew its home on Country Club Drive. A new building site was secured, ground breaking was on October 2, 1993, and shells of the new metal buildings were donated.

1989

By January 1989, dinner was served every night of the year.

1988

On September 15, the first meal was prepared at the little yellow house. Food, tables, chairs and all were transported to the in the parking lot at the corner of Hibbert & Main Streets in Mesa. Twelve guests were served. In the beginning, two meals were provided each week.

1988

1988

In July, the first location opened: a little yellow house at 559 S Country Club Drive. An emergency food pantry and clothing bank was put in motion. Volunteers provided information and referrals to other community services.

1988

In February, a Town Hall meeting was held at St. Tim’s where parishioners decided to sponsor a food service and family shelter in the East Valley. The hunger, poverty and homeless crisis had begun. Paz de Cristo became the focus of all of St. Timothy’s Corporal Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless. The vision included an interfaith component where multiple faith communities would pool both financial and human resources to serve the needs of our neighbors in the East Valley.

1988

The population of Mesa reached nearly 280,000, and Red Mountain High School opened.

1988

A gallon of gas cost 91 cents.

1988

Laser eye surgery was invented and Rain Man was the highest-grossing movie.

1988

Canada hosted the Winter Olympics for the first time.

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 Feed, Clothe and Empower.

HOW YOUCAN HELP

Did You Know?

Of every dollar given to Paz de Cristo, 93 cents goes directly to help people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness.