I’m excited to share some good news about one of our newest partnerships — one that’s already making a real difference for students at Northern Arizona University.
Louie’s Cupboard got its start in 2012 as a class project at NAU focused on social movements. Since then, it’s grown into a vital campus resource, now serving hundreds of students, staff, and faculty each year.
Recognizing that many students face real financial pressure from the rising costs of tuition and housing to books and everyday necessities, Louie’s Cupboard fills a critical gap by giving the NAU community access to nutritious food.
Toward the end of last year, Flagstaff Family Food Center took over management of the pantry. The partnership grew out of the momentum we built together at last year’s NAU/FFFC Holiday Helpings event, where a remarkable community effort came together to provide full Thanksgiving meal kits. This included turkey, side dishes, produce, pies, and more to 931 households, serving more than 3,500 individuals. It was our largest single-day distribution ever.
The biggest change at Louie’s Cupboard since FFFC took over operations is the addition of new equipment for the pantry — most notably, coolers.
That may sound like a small thing, but according to Chris Smiley, FFFC’s Director of Programs, it created a seismic difference. With refrigeration on-site, the pantry has been able to offer fresh produce and pre-made meals and snacks. This is in addition to shelf-stable staples for the twice-monthly distributions.
“It blew the limits off of what they had available,” Chris said.
The first distribution this semester took place on September 4 and next week, we’ll be rolling out a new service. On September 16, Louie’s Cupboard will introduce client-choice pantry appointments on Wednesdays. This allows students can shop the cupboard directly and choose items that work for them.
Elliott Mendenhall, the lead FFFC staff member on this project, understands the impact of this model better than most. He used Louie’s Cupboard himself as an NAU student.
“When I was there and using Louie’s Cupboard, it was a great resource with a lot of canned food items,” Elliott said. “Now we’re able to bring different kinds of items like fresh produce and more protein. And students can choose what they really need or like. Sometimes we’re able to bring them chips and soda or candy and you would think we brought them a million dollars.”
Beyond reducing food waste, the client-choice model gives students dignity in how they receive support. As our Senior Vice President Ceara Chirovsky puts it: “What a client-choice model enables us to do is take that mentality from ‘I have to come here’ to ‘I get to come here.’ We’re just excited to provide people with a wonderful experience.”
One thing that is not changing is the cupboard’s reliance on student volunteers. They began this project 14 years ago and they are at the heart of its success. Throughout the years, interest in volunteering at Louie’s Cupboard has always been high. That enthusiasm matters more than ever, since the client-choice model requires more hands to keep the shelves stocked and the experience welcoming.
Louie’s Cupboard currently serves 100 to 200 students each month, and we expect that number to grow as more students discover the new client-choice option.
If you know a student or NAU employee who could use this resource, please help us spread the word as we continue to grow our mission of Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, Every Day.
Sincerely,
Ethan Amos
President & CEO
P.S. By now you’ve probably heard that FFFC recently received the largest single donation in our history. A $1 million anonymous gift to expand our reach into rural and Tribal communities. We’re deeply grateful, and deeply humbled.
But here’s something I’ve been thinking about since the news broke. A gift like that can build a bridge, but it can’t be the ground underneath it. That $1 million will help us go further, but it won’t be what keeps our warehouse shelves stocked next Tuesday, or what gets a family through this month. That’s still you. It’s the $5 a month or the $200 donation at year’s end or the can of soup dropped off at a food drive that makes FFFC possible, period.
In future issues of Nourishing Neighbors, we want to start telling some of your stories to show how your steady, faithful giving is the reason FFFC has been here for 34 years and counting. Until then, please remember that every donation matters. Your gift isn’t a sidekick to the big donation. You’re the whole reason there’s a stage for it to stand on.
Three small bites before you go:
1. Did you know FFFC has a cookbook? Grab your copy and put our community’s favorite recipes to work in your own kitchen.
2. Have you seen our new volunteer website yet? Check it out and see how easy it is to get involved.
3. A SNAP snapshot. A recent report from The Arizona Center for Economic Progress shows the impact of reduced SNAP benefits in our state.
A Year of Impact, Advocacy & Hope
While the statistics in the FFFC 2025 Impact Report are important, the real story is that behind every number is a neighbor who found help.
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.
35 Years of Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
Christmas Day 1991 was the first meal that launched Flagstaff Family Food Center, and this year we are celebrating 35 years of serving northern Arizona.
