Manzanita Outreach

Serving rural Yavapai County, Arizona, Manzanita Outreach’s (Manzanita) mission is to share the abundance of resources within our communities with dignity and joy with programs increasingly focused on dietary health. They are the largest food assistance provider in their region and one of the largest rural providers in the nation. Manzanita operates large-scale, drive-through mobile food-sharing events when and where it is most convenient for their community as well as home deliveries for seniors, school-based programs for youth and more. The dietary health components of the program evaluated here are the habits of consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as the knowledge and skills relative to preparing these foods. In total, Manzanita’s program served over 10,000 individuals within the Yavapai County region.

Funded Program

Manzanita partnered with local farms to provide thousands of pounds of produce and nutrition and culinary education to hundreds of current and additional clients. They focused on reaching historically underserved groups, including multiple Yavapai-Apache nation tribal communities. Materials were translated and food items customized to cultural preferences will be grown and distributed.

This project involved thorough evaluation activities, including surveys and interviews, which provided valuable insights into the dietary habits, health perceptions and food security challenges of the community. The results indicated positive trends in fruit and vegetable consumption, increased confidence in cooking and a slight improvement in overall health perceptions. However, persistent challenges remain, particularly regarding food insecurity and access to healthful foods.

The insights gained from Manzanita’s project will be applied to other programs within the organization, emphasizing a commitment to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making. By maintaining a robust evaluation framework, Manzanita aims to enhance its impact and secure the necessary support from donors and partners to sustain its vital services in the community.