DOUGLAS, Ariz. (KGUN) — Every month, the Douglas Area Food Bank has been distributing food to over 600 families in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. This week, that partnership ended.
"Due to several recent civil rights complaints, we have ended our partnership with Douglas Food Bank effective this week," officials with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona said. "We will continue, however, to serve our neighbors in the Douglas area with two monthly mobile distributions the first and second Mondays of the month, and through our various partner agencies."
The Community Food Bank is continuing to work with other Douglas agencies, including Douglas Arc, Douglas Tabernacle, House of Hope, and Cochise College. The mobile food distributions in Douglas will be at 1300 San Antonio Ave. on the first and second Mondays of each month.
Javier Fimbres, President of The Douglas Area Food Bank, says they were informed of the decision to end the partnership a month ago, but were told it would be effective June 4— after their monthly distribution Monday. He says they were told Monday morning they weren't allowed to pick up food from Walmart for the distribution— something they've been doing for years.
"We have nothing to hide," Fimbres said. "We didn't do anything wrong."
Douglas Mayor Jose Grijalva, found out about the end of the partnership Monday morning. He posted the following on Facebook: "After hearing about our community Food Bank earlier, I encouraged Mr. Fimbres to request a donation from the city to purchase food for our community. It will then be placed on the agenda for next week’s city council meeting. This is to ensure our residents have the assurance of having this necessity while this issue hopefully gets resolved soon."
Fimbres said it could be months before they see money from the city, if it's approved by the city council.
"We just want things to work here in Douglas," Fimbres said.
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Alexis Ramanjulu is a reporter in Cochise County for KGUN 9. She began her journalism career reporting for the Herald/Review in Sierra Vista, which she also calls home. Share your story ideas with Alexis by emailing alexis.ramanjulu@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook.
