On Christmas Day 1991, something remarkable happened in Flagstaff. The doors of a small converted restaurant on N. Second Street opened at 1 pm. Then, 50 people sat down to baked ham with pineapple sauce, three bean salad, candied yams, peas, carrots, homemade biscuits, and pumpkin pie.
That first meal was the launch of the Flagstaff Family Food Center, and this year we are celebrating 35 years of serving northern Arizona.
Our story begins with people who simply couldn’t turn away from hunger. Among them was George McCullough, who handed out his business cards on the street, directing anyone in need to the Grand Canyon Cafe for a hot meal, then settled with the cafe’s owners at month’s end. And John Rosenberg, a transplant from Milwaukee, who had been active in his church’s soup kitchen and wanted to replicate it here.
John was the one who discovered the empty building in Sunnyside that once housed Kelly’s Christmas Tree Restaurant. It still had a year left on the lease, which Catholic Social Services (now Catholic Charities) took over. Then 50 volunteers from across Flagstaff spent weeks renovating, cleaning, and installing donated equipment so it could open by Christmas Day.
That first year tested everyone’s resolve. By summer, Rosenberg had returned to Milwaukee and our first chef had moved on. Volunteers stepped up to keep the doors open, but uncertainty loomed as the lease was set to expire at the end of the year. But the community came through again when a group of citizens purchased the building and gave FFFC a 5-year lease at $5 a year.
By our first anniversary, we were serving 100 to 150 meals nightly. After our second, the Arizona Daily Sun named FFFC its Organization of the Year. Demand continued to grow – and FFFC grew with it.
In 2013, we absorbed the Northern Arizona Food Bank, expanding beyond hot meals and bagged lunches to food boxes. And in 2024, we acquired the Grand Canyon Food Pantry Inc., which had started during the 2018-2019 government shutdown.
Recent years brought unprecedented challenges: pandemic disruption, soaring housing costs, persistent inflation. We responded with major renovations to both our kitchen and warehouse to increase our capacity.
Currently, we serve almost half a million meals each year and distribute more than 7.4 million pounds of food through our warehouse and neighborhood distribution programs.
We’re doing more than feeding our neighbors, however. We’re also working to transform our food system. Through our annual Anti-Hunger Summits, we’ve brought together experts to share knowledge and innovation. We’ve launched the Northern Arizona Hunger Action Partnership to advocate for policy change at local, state, and federal levels. We’re collaborating across sectors to increase food access and build lasting food equity.
Our ultimate goal is a northern Arizona where food insecurity doesn’t exist. Until we reach that day, FFFC will be here, offering nourishing food and enduring hope every day.
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re grateful for every person who has been part of this journey. Our volunteers, donors, and friends have all made our mission – Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, Every Day – a reality for 35 years.
Sincerely,
Ethan Amos
President & CEO
P.S. Throughout our 35 years, Flagstaff Family Food Center has been fortunate in the volunteer leaders who have chosen to steer our mission and lend us their talent and support. Many have been recognized by the Arizona Daily Sun for their leadership and generosity.
One of our founders, George McCullough, was named a Citizen of the Year by the paper just three years after we opened our doors. Pat Hecht, one of our earliest directors, was also given the honor in 2001, and our current Chair of the Board, Sylvia A. Johnson, earned the title in 2024.
Add to that illustrious list our Board Co-Vice Chair, Carol Dykes, who was just named the 2025 Flagstaff Female Citizen of the Year. Carol is best know to many as the former President & CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona, but since her retirement two years ago, she’s continued to serve the community through her leadership on several nonprofit boards, including FFFC. We are very lucky to have her and thrilled for her achievement. Congratulations, Carol!
Racing to Feed Our Neighbors: ‘Cooler Runnings’ Returns
Join us February 6, 2026 as 32 local businesses compete in this unique bobsled race put on by Canyon Coolers at the Flagstaff Snow Park.
Hope Is Powerful — and Right Now, It Goes Twice as Far
Our work begins with a simple belief: everyone deserves access to nutritious food and to be treated with dignity. Every day, we see how fragile stability can be.
A Record-Breaking Event & A Special Award
It has been an extraordinary couple of weeks for FFFC, featuring a record-breaking Thanksgiving event and an honor for our volunteer engagement efforts from Governor Katie Hobbs.
