The Cultural Cup Food Bank :: Phoenix, Arizona

The Cultural Cup Food Bank started about 10 years ago, due to the emergency needs of single women with children, and the fact that most emergency food banks didn't have much concern for the type of food they gave out. Zarinah had her own personal experience with seeking out emergency help and was told beggars can't be choosers. It was her desire to make sure no one else would be treated like that and so the idea came to provide food boxes that would be meet the cultural, religious, and health demands of those in need. Zarinah Awad along with a few volunteers worked diligently from out of her home providing these food boxes for families in need.

In 2003 the opportunity came to get this program moving by way of an article in the Arizona Republic, and so The Cultural Food Bank was born. The Cultural Cup Food Bank Inc. is a non-profit 501c3, non-sectarian organization established to provide alternative emergency food for those in need, who have religious, health and dietary food restrictions. We are all volunteers and run off donations from supporters in the community.

Sabiha Keskin is our program manager and all around get the job done sister. Between Zarinah and a host of volunteers we serve 300 families per week, with emergency food and baby needs such as diapers, food, and milk. We also deliver boxes to the elderly and disabled homebound every month. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan we run a program called The Ramadan Gift Card Program. With donations, we purchase gift cards for families in need of food to break fast to do thier own shopping at local markets. Sr. Zarinah and Sabihah

Big plans are under way now and when asked how are you doing all these things Zarinah responds with a smile "Allah will make a way".

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause please send it to: The Cultural Cup Food Bank P.O. Box 32923 Phoenix AZ 85064-2923 or visit the donate page for direct deposit information. The Cultural Cup Food Bank can be reached at 602 266-8370 602 274-0755 or you can e-mail us at culturalcupfb@qwest.net. Al-Nisa can be contacted at 602 266-8370 for bookings and more information.