Life Sharing Center Inc.

St. Jude Food Bank is located in Tuba City, Arizona on the far western border of the Navajo Nation and serves all persons coming to us for help. A portion of three Native American tribal reservations conjoin in the region; Western Navajo, Western Hopi and Southern Paiute. The St. Jude Food Bank is a sponsored ministry of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

Life Sharing Center, Inc doing business as St. Jude Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) corporation and designated by the State of Arizona as a Qualifying Charitable Organization. Operations are funded through grants, donations and fundraisers. We employ 4 members of the community part-time. Daughters of Charity offer their service at no charge to the Food Bank.

The Daughters of Charity and our local Board of Directors feel strongly our call to help those living with food insecurity, especially the most vulnerable. We are also called to help those we serve build a more secure life for themselves. We do this by partnering with local organizations and citizens in strategic initiatives aimed at creating sustainable food systems and encouraging self reliance.

St. Jude Food Bank Mission Statement:

The mission of St. Jude food Bank is to gather and make food available for those living with food insecurity on Western Navajo, Western Hopi and Southern Paiute reservations. We work to encourage self-sufficiency through education, advocacy and coalition building. We welcome each client with respect and genuine service from the heart.

St. Jude Food Bank Vision Statement:

That no one, especially children and the elderly, be hungry in-spite of geographic, economic, physical or emotional conditions.

Our Journey: 

The Food Bank began in 1994, using a small closet in the pastor’s house. Two years later in 1996, the supplies were moved into the garage as the number of people asking for help increased. What started as neighborly food assistance soon became more formal as the Daughters of Charity were asked to come to Tuba City to help with the ministry. As the need for emergency and other food assistance continued to grow throughout the region, it became evident that a larger site and additional cold storage space were needed. In 2001, we moved into a new 80 X 24 foot facility and formed a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Life Sharing Center, Inc. doing business as St. Jude Food Bank, became the first and only non-profit food bank on the reservation. In the years following a 30X50 dry storage warehouse and community garden were added, allowing for increased storage and the growing of healthy fruits and vegetables for our clients.

We appreciate your interest in our organization and hope you will consider assisting us in our mission.