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MESA, Arizona – After an extensive search, the Board of Directors at Paz de Cristo Community 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 Community Center
424 W. Broadway Road
Mesa, AZ 85210
480.464-2370
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 13,000 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:
Jackie Shelley
de*********@*********to.org
480-464-2370

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.

   

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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.

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.

 

Corn, black beans and celery leaves with jalapeno peppers over a habanero base are just a few of the ingredients Chef John Farley of Paz de Cristo is considering for My Nana’s Salsa Challenge.

Farley is no stranger to salsa, his recipe won second place in the Salsa Challenge last year.

“I’ve got a couple of secret ingredients in mind too,” Farley said. “I’m going to use the hottest chilis in southwest that I can find.” He is testing flavors to create a original, mouthwatering combinations in three salsa categories: Hot, Mild and Anything Goes.

Hope to see you at Nana’s Salsa Challenge, Saturday, April 18. You’ll love the salsa!

Farley is a master of creativity in the kitchen. He set the winning record of 53 consecutive menus prepared without duplicating the main course even once. He begins each day with random ingredients in bulk and ends with a delicious meal for about 300 guests every night of the year.

Paz de Cristo helps people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness. More than 50,000 meals are provided each month, and it doesn’t stop there. Clean clothes, a hot shower and a haircut give guests a fresh start. People receive help finding jobs and removing barriers so they can get ahead.

Thanks to caring volunteers and generous donors, Paz de Cristo is the only place where a hot, nutritious meal, a fresh start and a new job come together. Lives are changed every day at Paz de Cristo whose mission is to Feed, Clothe and Empower people in need.

We look forward to seeing you at My Nana’s Salsa Challenge, 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday, April 18. The event will be held at Sloan Park, 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy, in Mesa, Arizona. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.salsachallenge.com.

 

Pas de Cristo Community Center has received a grant totaling $150,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

“Last year, Paz de Cristo served more than 16,600 people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness. We provided more than 600,000 meals to Veterans, senior citizens, single parents and working poor,” Executive Director Arlen Westling said.

According to Westling, this grant form the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust will provide the additional resources needed to enclose their dining hall and install air conditioning. “By transforming our space, volunteers and guests will find relief from 100-degree summer evenings. Now we will be able to expand the hours of empowerment programs for people in need.”

“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.

The grant to Paz de Cristo represents one of 19 awarded to nonprofit organizations in Arizona by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust during the second of two grant cycles this year. Since the Trust began its grant making in 1998, it has awarded $305 million to 988 nonprofit organizations in its home states of Arizona and Indiana. For more information about the Trust and its programs visit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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. 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. Celebrate stories of life change and discover more about the vision, mission and values of Paz de Cristo.

You can help feed hungry neighbors and take home a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted bowl.

Last year, more than 22,000 people in Maricopa County were homeless. Two million people in Arizona don’t have enough food to eat. Over 60% percent of our neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck, and that paycheck barely covers rent and the basic necessities of life.

To highlight solutions to hunger and poverty, Mesa Community College hosts annual Empty Bowls events in conjunction with World Food Day with proceeds benefitting Paz de Cristo Community Center.

Participants can choose a unique, handcrafted bowl and dine on a simple meal of bread, soup and water in exchange for a $10 donation. This meal symbolically represents the caloric intake that sustains many around the world for an entire day.

All proceeds will directly benefit Paz de Cristo Community Center which provides more than 50,000 meals each month to neighbors battling hunger, poverty and homelessness. $10 helps provide 25 meals.

Silent auctions featuring ceramic work by some of the Valley’s most talented artists will be held at both mid-day events. Please join us!

Follow us on socials for annual dates, usually in November
Southern & Dobson Campus
1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa

Red Mountain Campus
7110 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa

Paz de Cristo Community Center is now in a better position to help more people in need.

Thrivent Financial welcomed Paz de Cristo to the Thrivent Choice^®, a program that helps strengthen communities and changes lives. With Thrivent Choice^®, eligible members are given the power to recommend where some of the organization’s charitable outreach funds are distributed each year.

Since 2010, Thrivent has given more than $370 million in charitable outreach funds to support churches, schools and other nonprofit organizations like Paz de Cristo.

Staff and volunteers at Paz de Cristo will put the much-needed funding to work right away. Food to provide more than 50,000 meals each month, new socks, t-shirts and underwear as well as hot showers, bus passes, birth certificates, vouchers for Arizona identification, internet access and job coaching are a few of the resources and services that will be fueled by Thrvient Choice.

“Thrivent dollars stretch our resources so that we can reach more people in need,” stated Arlen Westling, Executive director of Paz de Cristo. Last year, more than 22,000 people in Maricopa County were homeless. Two million people in Arizona don’t have enough food to eat. Nearly 30 percent of our neighbors live on a paycheck that barely covers rent and the basic necessities of life.

Paz de Cristo’s mission is to Feed, Clothe and Empower people in need in the Phoenix East Valley. It is a natural fit with Thrivent Financial, a membership organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously. To direct your Choice Dollars to Paz de Cristo, contact a Customer Care Professional at 1-800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say “Thrivent Choice” at the prompt or email ma**@******nt.com.

Paz de Cristo is celebrating 30 years of helping neighbors struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness.

The 30^th anniversary fundraising breakfast will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Participants will take a trip down memory lane celebrating milestones and victories with the theme “Pearls of Hope and Dignity.”

The First Supper

The first supper was served to twelve people on card tables in a parking lot at the corner of Hibbert & Main Street in Mesa. That was then.

Today more than 200 of our neighbors in need receive a hot meal every night of the year in the dining hall at the current location on Broadway Road in Mesa. Paz de Cristo doesn’t stop there.

Feed, Clothe and Empower

Services have expanded from providing more than 50,000 meals each month to helping people completely turn their lives around. The organization’s mission is to Feed, Clothe and Empower people in need.

Clean clothes, a hot shower and a new haircut give guests a fresh start. Their transformation can be seen and felt as they stand tall with hope for a brighter future.

Volunteers and staff help people find jobs and remove barriers so that they can get ahead. One-on-one assistance searching through job openings, writing resumes, applying for jobs online and preparing for interviews propels people forward. Essentials for the job search are provided including an email address, bus passes for transportation to interviews, birth certificates and vouchers for Arizona identification.

Since the Job Center opened in 2014, more than 1,300 people have taken advantage of these services.

Thank You

Paz de Cristo’s work is fueled by the Mesa community. “We are grateful to have such generous, faithful volunteers and donors as part of our family,” stated Executive Director Arlen Westling. “They’ve made these thirty years possible!”