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MESA, Arizona – After an extensive search, the Board of Directors at Paz de Cristo Outreach Center is pleased to announce they have hired Jackie Shelley as the new Executive Director. With more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience in the Phoenix East Valley, Jackie will lead the organization as it innovates to expand its services to meet the growing needs of our community.

Paz de Cristo’s Director of Food Services, John Farley says, “We are thrilled to welcome Jackie Shelley as the new Executive Director at Paz de Cristo. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will surely help our organization grow to new heights all while continuing to feed, clothe and empower those in need in the East Valley.”

Jackie’s professional experience includes fundraising and development, marketing, relationship building, grant writing, volunteer management, food bank operations, and community engagement. These experiences position her well to grow Paz de Cristo’s reputation and connections in the community.

“Nonprofit management is a vocation – a calling, if you will – and I feel called to be the servant-leader who can build on the solid foundation that has been laid by those who came before and grow our reputation in the community as a leader in feeding, clothing, and empowering those in need,” says Shelley whose first day in her new role was Monday, April 18th, 2022.

About Paz de Cristo:
Paz de Cristo Outreach Center
424 W. Broadway Road
Mesa, AZ 85210
480.741.2481
www.pazdecristo.org

Since 1988, Paz de Cristo has been a place of peace and hope for people struggling with hunger, poverty
and homelessness.

Last year, we served more than 16,000 men, women, children, veterans, and seniors with a wide range
of supportive services from a hot meal every evening to food boxes, showers, clothing, job search
assistance, bus passes, Arizona identification, mail service and much more.
Generous donors and volunteers fuel our mission to Feed, Clothe and Empower the homeless and
working poor in the Phoenix East Valley. Find out more about us at pazdecristo.org.

Media contact:
Geetha Ananthankrishnan
geetha@pazdecristo.org
480-464-2370 ext. 204

Paz de Cristo has been nationally certified as a Service Enterprise by Points of Light and the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family.

Staff and leaders at Paz de Cristo committed to learning and implementing best practices in strategic volunteer management needed to achieve certification.

“Service Enterprise Initiative equipped us to better involve and engage volunteers in all aspects of everything we do and at all levels. Now we can have an even bigger impact in our community as we better serve hungry neighbors in need,” stated Shelley Nelson, Director of Marketing & Development at Paz de Cristo.

The vision of Paz de Cristo’s volunteer initiative is, “To create a motivating environment where volunteers are on fire, with each one

• • – Connected to a meaningful role
  • – Equipped with the resources and training they need to succeed
  • – Inspired & Informed to make a real difference and
  • – Fully engaged on a mission to Feed, Clothe & Empower people in need.”

 

Together with our volunteers we can achieve so much more that the sky really is the limit!

I have been volunteering at Paz de Cristo since the 1980’s when I moved to the Valley from South Dakota. I believe it is important to give back to the community, to pay life’s challenges forward in faith and fellowship, and to serve others in need. When I experienced the struggle of hunger and homelessness in the face of my own wayward son, I grew even more passionate about serving and supporting Paz de Cristo.

Through the years as a volunteer, I have watched the organization grow and prosper in its mission and vision. I work for SRP, and I also serve on the Board of Directors for Metro Phoenix Bank (MPB).

During SRP’s quarterly evening meal service at Paz, I spoke to Arlen and was bold enough to ask for Paz de Cristo’s banking relationship on behalf of MPB. He responded that he had been considering the notion and he went about his business. Arlen returned 15 minutes or so later and invited me to consider board leadership at Paz de Cristo.

Arlen trusted I would be bold enough to advocate for Paz de Cristo as well, and he was right. Shortly after my board acceptance, I also offered to fill a Board vacancy as Secretary.

I am grateful for Arlen and his leadership. He is compassionate, firm and fair, and I have watched him demonstrate all of these characteristics routinely in guest conversations.

He has done an outstanding job bringing together a talented Board of Directors with diverse interests and professional experiences who share in Arlen’s passion for serving others in need.  Arlen has also built a tremendous relationship with Mayor Giles and other Mesa leaders.

His tireless promotion of Paz and our mission to Feed, Clothe & Empower has grown exponentially under his leadership and so have the programs we offer. Thanks to Arlen’s relationships with influential donors, Paz has been able to support joblessness through employment, Arizona ID acquisition, showers and changes of clothes for our guests. Still, 93 cents of every dollar goes to program services.

On behalf of the Paz de Cristo Board of Directors, I want to thank Arlen for his service and to welcome Executive Director Joe Tansill. Arlen is leaving the helm in Joe’s capable hands, but he is not abandoning ship. We are thrilled that Arlen has decided to continue his service on the board of directors.

With God’s leading and your partnership, we have great hope for the future of Paz de Cristo and the thousands of guests we plan to continue serving year over year.

Many blessings,

Lori Jones

Board Secretary, Paz de Cristo

Grab ‘n Go Dinners Continue while Programs are Suspended, Volunteers and Monetary Donations are Needed

 

These are challenging times for everyone. Now more than ever before, we need each other.

Rest assured that Paz de Cristo is continuing to feed hungry neighbors in need. In fact, we’ve been providing dinner every night for 31 years, and we haven’t missed a meal yet.

Here’s how we are pressing on.

Safety Comes First

We are reinforcing all existing procedures for food safety. In addition, we have taken steps to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers, guests and staff. These steps include

• – Maintaining social distance of six feet between all people,
• – Requiring frequent handwashing,
• – Sanitizing and disinfecting all surfaces, equipment and utensils as well as
• – Postponing meetings and gatherings of large groups.

 

Grab ‘n Go meals are provided as a safer alternative to serving dinner in the dining hall. Food boxes are being provided to Case Workers every weekday.

The Office is Closed and Programs are Suspended

While we continue to fight hunger, all other programs have been temporarily suspended in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. This means that all programs including clothing, showers, haircuts, employment coaching, job search assistance, identification, birth certificates and the mobile medical clinic are all closed effective immediately and until further notice.

The office is closed. Please call the front desk at (480) 464-2370.

Volunteers are Needed

Caring volunteers are the heart of Paz de Cristo. Their compassion gives hope when it is needed most.

Five volunteers are needed every night to prepare Grab ‘n Go meals. Note that gloves, masks, sanitizer and disinfectant are provided for volunteers.

Please know that when you sign up for a shift, we are counting on you. Should you need to reschedule, please do so 48 hours in advance so that we can arrange for other volunteers to serve. Sign up Here

In-Kind Donations are Suspended

All in-kind donations such as bread, bottled water, hygiene items, shoes, clothing and food can no longer be received at this time. While we appreciate the generosity of our supporters, sanitizing and disinfecting procedures required to safely distribute all of the items has simply overwhelmed our staff.

Please consider giving a monetary gift as an alternative.

You can DOUBLE Your Impact! Monetary Contributions are Needed

We are already experiencing a gap. There is a difference between the donations we expect to receive and the added costs for deep cleaning, disinfecting and purchasing supplies needed to serve nearly 16,000 people each year.

Please consider standing with us by making a donation. Your gift will be used to provide nourishing meals. You can double your impact since the first $10,000 will be matched as part of Arizona Gives Day. A gift of $40 now provides 88 meals! Go online to AZGives.org and give today.

 

Responding to COVID-19

As we work through this pandemic together, rest assured that Paz de Cristo continues to feed hungry neighbors in need.

Thanks to incredibly caring volunteers and generous donors, we are standing on the front line. In fact, we’ve been providing dinner every night for more than 33 years, and we haven’t missed a meal yet.

Hunger is satisfied and hearts are full at Paz de Cristo. Here’s how we are pressing on.

 

How We Help

A hot, nourishing meal is served every night of the year, and food boxes are provided every weekday at Paz de Cristo.

A hot shower and clean clothing give our guests a fresh start. Basic needs for food, water and hygiene are met first.

Personal, one-on-one assistance finding shelter, landing a new job and getting government-issued identification help people get back on their feet.

We are More than a meal. We Feed, Clothe & Empower.

FEED

Nightly Meal

All guests are welcome to dine in or take a Grab n’ Go hot, nutritious meal to go each night of the year.

Emergency Food Boxes

Contact-free food boxes are offered on the first, second and third Tuesday of every month.

Food Boxes for Case Workers

Food boxes are provided every weekday to Case Workers who deliver them to their clients.

 

CLOTHE

A hot shower and clean clothing give our guests a fresh start every Wednesday.

 

EMPOWER

Personal, one-on-one assistance helps those in need

• • – find short-term shelter and permanent housing,
  • – secure benefits,
  • – find a job,
  • – get government-issued identification and
  • – receive medical attention from our Circle the City’s mobile medical clinic.

   

  This powerful intervention of food, clothing, shelter and jobs is helping end the cycle of poverty.

  Lives are changed every day at Paz de Cristo. Be inspired by real stories of victory.

   

Grab ‘n Go dinners will be distributed every night at Paz de Cristo Community Center, 424 West Broadway Road in Mesa, Arizona. The takeaway dinners will be offered at 5:30 pm.

Grab ‘n Go dinners are an alternative to evening meal service which has been suspended temporarily. “We are continuing to provide as much food as we can,” Executive Director Arlen Westling stated. “The health and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers are top priorities.”

This transition is the direct result of the recommendation by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that limits large group gatherings across the United States over the next eight weeks.

Executive leaders at Paz de Cristo continue to monitor updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC for the latest developments related to COVID-19 and follow the guidance of local and state government and health officials.

“Thanks to our volunteers and donors, we’ve never missed a meal in 31 years of providing dinner every night of the year,” Kitchen Manager John Farley said.

About Paz de Cristo

The mission of Paz de Cristo is to Feed, Clothe and Empower people in the Phoenix East Valley. The organization provides more than 50,000 meals each month and strives to relieve suffering while helping those in need improve their quality of life.

Clean clothes, a hot shower and a haircut give people a fresh start. Paz de Cristo’s jobs program offers personal career coaching along with practical, one-on-one assistance writing resumes, searching for job openings and preparing for interviews.

This powerful intervention of food, clothing and jobs is helping end the cycle of poverty. Be inspired by stories of life change and more information about Paz de Cristo.

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Paz de Cristo Community Center is pleased to announce the grand opening of its newly-enclosed dining hall.

Mesa Mayor John Giles shared remarks following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 200 people attending the event held on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Paz de Cristo Community Center,    424 W Broadway Road, Mesa, Arizona.

In December, construction was completed that enclosed the dining hall and installed air conditioning as well as heating. “By transforming our space, volunteers and guests will find relief from 120-degree summer days. Now we will be able to expand the hours of empowerment programs for people in need,” explained Executive Director Arlen Westling.

“Last year, Paz de Cristo served more than 15,000 people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness,” Westling said. “We provided more than 600,000 meals to Veterans, senior citizens, working poor and people experiencing homelessness.”

Construction on the new dining hall was made possible by grants from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

A grant in the amount of $150,000 was given by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. “We’re pleased to help Paz de Cristo serve clients in greater comfort, while providing a multi-purpose space where clients can access programs and services that lead to greater self-sufficiency,” said Senior Program Officer Laura McBride of Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

In addition, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community gave grants totaling $136,750 to fund construction on the new dining hall along with upgrades to Paz de Cristo’s commercial kitchen and warehouse.

“We are so grateful for the generous support of these two organizations,” Westling said. “Now we can provide food, programs and relief from the extreme summer heat.”

About Paz de Cristo

The mission of Paz de Cristo is to Feed, Clothe and Empower those in need in the Phoenix East Valley. The organization provides more than 50,000 meals each month and strives to relieve suffering while helping those in need improve their quality of life. Clean clothes, a hot shower and a haircut give people a fresh start.

Paz de Cristo’s Jobs Program offers personal career coaching along with practical, one-on-one assistance writing resumes, searching for job openings and preparing for interviews. Computers with online access and printers are available in the Job Center. Staff members help people get Arizona identification, birth certificates and bus tickets effectively removing barriers so people can get ahead.

This powerful intervention of food, clothing and jobs is helping end the cycle of poverty.

You’re Invited to a Party with a Purpose

RigaTony’s Italian Restaurant is celebrating its 25th Birthday with a Food and Wine Tasting Party.

Classic Italian favorites will be sampled along with pairings from the wine list. Live entertainment, prizes and giveaways will make it a fun, enjoyable night to remember.

Between two and three hundred people are expected to attend with net proceeds and donations benefiting Paz de Cristo.

Chrissy Lopercio of RigaTony’s also serves as a Meal Coordinator every month at Paz de Cristo. She leads a team of 20 volunteers who serve dinner to our guests and clean up afterward. RigaTony’s has provided more than 40,000 meals over the last ten years.

The Tasting Party will be held from 5-9 pm, on Thursday, October 24. Advance tickets are available for $12 and can be reserved at Rigatony’s.com

Construction at Paz de Cristo has begun and is expected to continue through November, 2019 .

The new, enclosed space will soon be air conditioned. It will be used for dinner every night of the year as well as new programs during the day.

What Volunteers Need to Do

During construction, dinner will be served at St. Vincent de Paul which is located one mile from Paz de Cristo. Volunteering for the evening meal will look a little bit different while construction is underway.

Volunteers for the Evening Meal service are reminded to

– Sign up on the Volunteer Calendar or confirm with your group coordinator that you are scheduled to serve,

– Plan to volunteer from 4 pm – 7:30 pm,

– Go directly to St. Vincent de Paul, 67 W Broadway Rd (at Broadway & McDonald), Mesa, Arizona, 85210. St. Vincent de Paul is located one mile east of Paz de Cristo,

– Carpool if possible as parking is limited,

– Prepare fruit salad, vegetable salads, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bread & butter, deserts and drinks,

– Serve the meal and help clean up.

We are so grateful for you and very much appreciate your flexibility. Thanks to faithful volunteers like you, we have never missed an evening meal in more than more than thirty years. In fact, we all came together and adapted when the kitchen was closed due to the fire six years ago.

We are confident that we can easily adapt now too. Construction is expected to continue into November, 2019. Please watch for ongoing updates.

YOU make a real difference to people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness. We couldn’t serve dinner every night of the year without caring volunteers like you.

What Guests Need to Know

Changes to Services during Construction

– Gates at Paz de Cristo close at 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday.

– Dinner will be served at St. Vincent de Paul which is located one mile east of Paz de Cristo. Go directly to St. Vincent de Paul, 67 W Broadway Rd (at Broadway & McDonald), Mesa, Arizona, 85210. St. Vincent de Paul will open for dinner each day at 4:30 pm.

– The restrooms and water stations close at 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday.

– Personal mail can be picked up in the administrative office at Paz de Cristo from 11 am – 2 pm, Monday – Friday.

– The Resource Center with Navigators from Marc Community Resources closes at 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. The last appointment begins at 4 pm each day.

– These changes are in effect until construction is completed in November, 2019.

All other services and programs will remain the same throughout construction. See a full schedule of services and programs.