The Yavapai College Food Pantry and partner St. Mary’s Food Bank are gearing up for another free community food giveaway on Friday, March 27. This time, the college’s drive-through food distribution has a new pickup location on the Prescott Campus.

Instead of the main parking lot adjacent to the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, the forthcoming food distribution is happening in Parking Lot N, along the North Washington Avenue entrance to the college. All those taking advantage of the distribution are urged to access Parking Lot N via North Washington (off of Sheldon Street) and follow signs to the pickup location.

The latest food distribution marks the Yavapai College Food Pantry’s fourth partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank to make fresh and shelf-stable food supplies available to YC students and the greater community. Previous drive-through food distributions each have served hundreds of families.

The Yavapai College Food Pantry’s mission and its success in preventing struggling students from dropping out of college recently resulted in two generous community donations.

Prescott Empty Bowls, a project of the Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist congregation and benefiting area food banks, gifted the food pantry $4,250. The gift represents a portion of the proceeds of the 28th annual Prescott Empty Bowls fundraiser in September 2025.

“This is an incredible community gift that will go a long way to help keep our pantry fully stocked,” said Deborah Chambers, Yavapai College Student Affairs and Food Pantry Coordinator.

It was the first time Prescott Empty Bowls has shared its fundraising proceeds with the Yavapai College Food Pantry. The decision came after GPUU’s Social Justice Committee, which is responsible for the Prescott Empty Bowls fundraiser, opted to start helping  smaller food-sharing outlets in Yavapai County, and after volunteer Moira Patterson visited the pantry on the Prescott Campus earlier this year.

“It was our goal to seek out some of the smaller food pantries and stretch our dollars a little more. We fell in love with your place – the energy, the vibes,” Patterson said. She said she was particularly moved by the stories of students who were able to finish college, achieve their goals and land in-demand jobs in the community thanks to help from the food pantry.

“This is what it’s about – young adults and couples with children who are barely getting by and helping them stay in school,” Patterson said.

The Yavapai College Food Pantry also recently accepted a $500 contribution from the United Methodist Church Women of Prescott.

The free drive-through food distribution at Yavapai College on March 27 starts at 10 a.m. and food is available until supplies run out.

For information about the food distribution event, or about donating to the Yavapai College Food Pantry, visit yc.edu/food.

For information about Empty Bowls Prescott, visit  https://prescott-empty-bowls.square.site/. 

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.