Monthly food distribution in Bullhead City provides 30,000 lbs of free food to community

BULLHEAD CITY — Make Bullhead Better, a local non-profit organization, conducts a free drive-thru food distribution event in Bullhead City, Arizona, on the Saturday following the third Friday of each month. The next event is scheduled for August 17, 2024, starting at 7:00 AM at 590 Hancock Road.
The organization distributes approximately 30,000 pounds of food each month, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and non-perishable items. The food is provided through a partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, Arizona.
No documentation or proof of need is required to receive food. Residents can pick up food for their own families as well as for others in need. The distribution typically serves hundreds of families each month.
Grace Hecht, founder and president of Make Bullhead Better, stated, “This food is available to everyone regardless of where you live or your income level.” She emphasized that the program aims to support food security in the Tri-State area.
The initiative began in September 2022 and has been held monthly since. It relies on local volunteers to assist with packing and distributing the food. Volunteers are welcome to help pack food the evening before, on Friday from 3-6 PM, as well as on the morning of the event starting at 6 AM.
Make Bullhead Better is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2019. Its board includes Grace Hecht (President), Nicole Tracy (Vice President), Melinda Sobraske (Treasurer), Julia Gillespie (Secretary), and Chelsea Wegner (Board Member). The organization operates under the motto “Community Over Competition” and focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Bullhead City.
In addition to the food distribution program, Make Bullhead Better organizes other community events and initiatives, though specific details about these programs were not immediately available.
Hecht, who is also a Bullhead City Council member since 2021, was recognized as the 2021 First Things First Champion for Young Children in the La Paz/Mohave region for her efforts in supporting local families. She was also named the 2023 Citizen of the Year, though the awarding body for this recognition was not specified in the available information.
St. Mary’s Food Bank, the organization’s partner in this initiative, was founded in 1967 and is recognized as the world’s first food bank. It serves over 250,000 meals per day across Arizona, supporting a network of more than 900 partner agencies. The food bank operates on donations, distributing approximately 6 million pounds of food per month across Arizona.
As a small non-profit, Make Bullhead Better files a Form 990-N with the IRS, which is required for organizations with annual gross receipts of $50,000 or less. Detailed financial information about the organization is not publicly available due to this filing status.
For more information about the food distribution event or Make Bullhead Better, residents can call 928-444-2896 or visit makebullheadbetter.com. Those interested in volunteering or supporting the initiative are encouraged to reach out through these channels.