More Than a Food Bank.
A Community Built on Relationships.
Since 2012, Project Rising Hope has served the Verde Valley with dignity, compassion, and the conviction that everyone matters.
Where It Started
Project Rising Hope was founded in 2012 in Cottonwood, Arizona with a simple but powerful belief: that practical help and genuine human connection belong together.
In our first year, we served between 1,000 and 2,000 people. Today, we serve 380 families every single Tuesday, reaching 41,928 individuals in 2024 alone. What has never changed is the way we show up, with warmth, respect, and the commitment that every person who walks through our doors is seen, heard, and valued.
We are not a hand-out. We are a hand alongside.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
At Project Rising Hope, neighbors shop a warehouse-style pantry and select the items that actually fit their diet, health needs, and family preferences. We partner with the Arizona Food Bank Network to offer locally grown, farm-fresh produce whenever possible, so that free food is also good food.
But what truly sets us apart is not the food. It is the people.
Volunteers greet every neighbor warmly, whether it is their first visit or their hundredth. Conversations happen in the aisles. Names are remembered. First-timers who arrive bewildered leave with groceries and a community. The PRH volunteer family operates on a first-name basis with nearly everyone who comes through the door.
A Shop-Style Pantry Built on Dignity
"I appreciate how you treat us with respect. I don't feel demeaned or demoralized by you. Not only do we get a great choice of food, but we get friends too."
Mission & Vision
Why We Exist
"Project Rising Hope exists to bring hope to our community, through relationships, by serving to meet practical and spiritual needs."
Our Mission To Fight Hunger
The Verde Valley is a community worth fighting for. Roughly 1 in 7 households in Yavapai County struggles with food security daily, according to the United Way of Yavapai County. There are approximately 20 food distribution centers in the county, yet demand still outweighs supply. Project Rising Hope exists to be a small but effective link in that chain, and to do it differently than anyone else.
WHO WE SERVE
Everyone Is Welcome Here
The core of everything we do is simple: everyone matters.
Who can come?
Anyone with an Arizona Driver's License or state-issued ID. Open every Tuesday, Noon–4pm. 750 E Mingus Ave, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. No appointment needed.
Project Rising Hope serves anyone with an Arizona Driver’s License. Yavapai County residents make up the largest portion of those we serve, and we are proud to be a trusted resource for the Verde Valley community.
While food is our primary focus, needs do not stop there. Through collaboration with local nonprofit partners, Project Rising Hope has helped three single-parent families avoid homelessness by connecting them to additional resources and support. We also partner with House of Ruth and Hope Women’s Center to provide targeted assistance to women and families facing particularly difficult circumstances, including baby formula for mothers and coordinated food referrals for families in crisis.
OUR IMPACT
Twelve Years of Showing Up
Contact us today for a personalized consultation!
- 380 Families Served Every Week
- 95 Volunteers Week In, Week Out
- 12+ Years Serving the Verde Valley
- 1 in 7 Yavapai County Households Faces Food Insecurity
LEADERSHIP
The People Behind the Mission
The organization is governed by a diverse Board of Directors who share a commitment to service, accountability, and community impact.
Executive Director:
Project Rising Hope is led by Stacia Grubb, Executive Director, whose dedication to the Verde Valley community has shaped the organization's relationship-first approach.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Stronger Together
We do not serve alone. Project Rising Hope works alongside trusted community partners to extend our reach and deepen our impact.
House of Ruth
Supporting women during pregnancy, House of Ruth partners with PRH to ensure mothers have access to baby formula and essential resources, giving families the foundation they need to thrive.
Hope Women's Center
Through coordinated referrals and food assistance, Hope Women's Center and PRH work together to meet the nutritional needs of women and families experiencing hardship. Together, we strengthen pathways to stability, dignity, and long-term support.
GET INVOLVED
There is a place for you here.
Need Help? Come And Visit With Us
Our doors are open every Tuesday, Noon–4pm. No appointment, no judgment, just community.
Your Donation Feeds Local Families
Arizona residents may give at no net cost through the AZ Charitable Tax Credit.
QCO Code: 22400
Want to Make a Difference?
95 volunteers prove every week that love is an action. There is always room for one more.
