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El Mirage Community Partnership Grant Program
Application
Program Overview
The City of El Mirage Community Partnership Grant supports nonprofit organizations that provide essential
health and human services directly to El Mirage residents, including low-income families, seniors, youth,
and other individuals who may benefit from additional support.
Health and human services refer to programs, projects, or activities that improve the general health,
including physical, mental, emotional, or social well-being, of individuals and families. These services
address basic needs, promote safety and stability, and enhance residents' overall quality of life.
The program offers one-time funding of up to $10,000 per application annually from July 1 to June 30.
Eligible nonprofits and other qualified charitable organizations with 501(c)(3) status or IRS letter of
determination recognizing nonprofit status under A.R.S. §42-11154 may submit multiple applications for
funding, provided each application represents a distinct program or project.
Applicants are limited to one application per program or project. Each application must specify the
minimum funding required. Applications are evaluated based on an evaluation scoring rubric approved by
the City Council. The ultimate funding decisions are made by the El Mirage City Council.
Applicant Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation or other qualified charitable or nonprofit
organization as provided for in A.R.S. §42-11154.
The applicant must provide direct health and human services to El Mirage residents and
demonstrate how the program or project improves resident well-being.
The applicant must demonstrate the ability to generate revenue from sources other than the City of
El Mirage.
The applicant must submit the five following required documents:
1) Proof of 501(c)(3) status or IRS determination letter under A.R.S. §42-11154.
2) Organizational mission statement.
3) Board of directors list, including roles and affiliations.
4) Last two years of IRS Form 990 filings (or explanation if not available or required to file).
5) Completed application signed by an authorized representative.
If awarded, the applicant must register with the City of El Mirage as a vendor and provide an IRS
Form W-9 to receive funds.
If awarded, the applicant must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward stated goals and
objectives and provide timely and accurate reports as required by the city.
Application Directions
Please answer the following questions in narrative form. Applicants will receive up to five points for a
complete and accurate application.
Submission Directions
One electronic copy of the application and required attachments must be submitted no later than
the date and time identified in the notice to apply.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Please save a copy of this application for your records.
Awarded applicants are required to report completed program or project goal measurements by a
date and time specified in the notice of award, before the end of the fiscal year of the award,
or sooner as may be required by the city.
More Program Information
Visit www.ElMirageAZ.gov/Grants for more information about the program, including evaluation scoring
rubric.
Program-Related Inquiries
For program questions or to update contact information, please contact Regan Jepson at
communityservices@elmirageaz.gov.
Part 1: Agency and Program or Project
Section A: Agency Information
Agency Name
HART Pantry
Tax Number
47-3627914
Executive Director / CEO
Ruth Langford
Website
https://hartpantry.org
Address
8456 W Sanna St, Peoria, Arizona 85345
Phone
(252) 259-5331
Section B: Agency Overview
Briefly describe your organization, the services it provides, mission, goals, and population served.
HART Pantry is a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides weekly food and basic necessities to homeless,
housing-insecure, and at-risk high school students. Working through trusted school staff, the program
discreetly distributes weekend food bags, ready-to-eat dinners, and essential hygiene supplies so teens
can focus on learning instead of hunger. HART Pantry fills a critical service gap for adolescents who often
fall outside traditional assistance programs. Powered entirely by community volunteers and donors, the
organization partners with schools and local groups to reduce food insecurity, improve attendance and
engagement, and help vulnerable teens build stability, confidence, and hope for a healthier future.
Please upload the following required documents:
1.
Proof of Section 501(c)(3) Tax Exemption - IRS determination letter verifying nonprofit status under
A.R.S. §42-11154 from the Internal Revenue Service. Please upload.
2.
Organizational mission statement. Please upload.
3.
Board of Directors list including a current list of board members with roles and affiliations. Please
upload.
Upload Files Here
HART EIN.pdf
HART Pantry Mission.docx
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOS.docx
Section C: Program or Project Information
Program or Project Name
HART Pantry Feed At-Risk Teens
Program or Project Contact Person
Heather Sorden
Email
hartpantry.hsorden@gmail.com
Phone
(602) 527-1893
Does the program or project directly serve residents of the City of El Mirage?
Yes
Please select one health & human services category that best aligns with the need met by the
program.
Homelessness / Housing Stability
If you selected "Other" above, please specify:
Part 2: Program Description
Section A: Narrative Description
Please provide a detailed description of the program or project that these grant funds will support,
if awarded.
HART Pantry is a food supplier to at-risk and homeless teens (age 13-19) in school, actively seeking a
high school
diploma. All funds received from the El Mirage Community Partnership Grant will be used to purchase food
for this program. Each Monday during the school year, we contact west valley high schools requesting
orders for the week. School representatives send their orders and volunteers prepare the food bags and
deliver them to the schools on Thursday of each week. The orders consist of weekend bags, 18 single-
serve, shelf stable items with as high a protein content as possible, and supper bags, 5-6 items each and
up to 4 bags per student per week. The weekend bags are meant to supply the student with dinner on
Friday, and breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. The supper bags provide dinner Monday
through Thursday. School representatives receive the bags on Thursday and distribute them to the
students. In addition to weekend and supper bags, HART Pantry provides essential items such as
toiletries, feminine hygiene products, bicycles, socks and other basic clothing. HART Pantry provides gifts
of $100 at Christmas and graduation to all students qualified by their counselors/teachers who have
benefited from the HART Pantry program. This program operates 40 weeks per year.
Describe how this program or project will benefit El Mirage residents directly and the need or gap
in service that it meets. Please include data to support your response.
The HART Pantry was established when it came to the attention of members that teens in West Valley
high schools including Dysart Unified School District, did not have enough food to sustain them when
school was not in session. Further study found that 1 in 4 youth in Arizona suffer from food insecurity and
that Maricopa County ranks as the third most food insecure county for youth in American (2022-23 Feeding
American). The effects of child hunger include increased health problems, developmental differences and
poor academic performance (Feeding America). Our connections with teachers and counselors give us
data that includes teens that are hungry make poor choices and teens at-risk will go without food for nearly
24 hours without our help. Further, councilors from West Valley schools tell the HART Pantry that teens
without proper adult care and supervision, become the ward of the street. They are preyed upon and often
resort to illegal activities to obtain money for food. This establishes the need in our community and HART
Pantry helps to fill that need by providing these at-risk teens with weekend food as well as a supper bag for
every night during the school week.
Is this a new or continuing program?
Continuing
If you selected "Other" above, please specify:
Section B: Scope & Timeline
What are the program or project dates?
The remainder of school year 2025/26 and next school year 2026/27
Total number of persons expected to be served by this program or project during the funded year.
450
Total number of El Mirage residents you expect to be served by this program or project during the
funded year.
120
How soon will the program or project be implemented after funds are received, if awarded? (If not
applicable, write “N/A.”)
Continuous project
Section C: Accessibility and Resource Needs
Does your program or project take place in the City of El Mirage? *
Yes
Where will your project or program be located, and how does this location support your ability to
serve El Mirage residents effectively?
The HART Pantry offices are located at 9451 North 99th Avenue on the Lions Foundation Campus. From
this location, inventory is stored, food bags are packed, and deliveries are made to 27 sites across the
West Valley, including Dysart High School and the Dysart Community Center. The HART Pantry is
supported by more than 50 dedicated volunteers who ensure food is delivered every week during the
school year.
Describe how your program or project will be open to the public and ensure accessibility for
persons with disabilities, including specific accommodations.
The students we serve are identified by their schools as eligible under the federal McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act, which supports youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and whose
identities are protected by law. No one who meets this criteria is turned away.
Will the implementation of this activity require space, staffing, grants management, or in-kind
contributions from another agency, a school, or another jurisdiction?
Yes
If you selected "Other" above, please specify (If not applicable, write “N/A.”):
Ongoing fundraising efforts are conducted year-round, with support from a wide network of
community partners.
Section D: Collaboration and Outreach
Are you currently partnered with, or have you ever partnered with, the City of El Mirage?
No
Describe how you will collaborate with the City of El Mirage to coordinate outreach promoting the
program or project to the residents of El Mirage.
Because the HART Pantry serves a distinct population—high school students—we rely on staff at partner
schools and community centers to help ensure we reach every at-risk teen attending these locations. The
HART Pantry stays in regular contact with these partners throughout the school year and surveys staff to
confirm that students are satisfied with the food and supplies provided.
How will you work with other local partners to maximize impact and ensure residents are aware of
and engaged with your services?
Each Monday during the school year, the HART Pantry contacts West Valley high schools and community
centers to request weekly orders. School representatives submit their requests, and volunteers prepare
and deliver food bags to the schools each Thursday.
Part 3: Program or Project Goals and Outcomes
Please provide up to three goals of the program or project and describe how progress will be
measured to ensure success in providing health and human services to the residents of El
Mirage. It is important to ensure that your goals correspond with the proposed number of residents to
be served within the program year. Explain how you will collect and report data and measure the
impact for each stated goal.
Example Goal: Of the 80 persons served by the project, 40% (32 persons) will find employment within
three months of entering the program. This will be measured by follow-up contact with each program
participant.
Measurable Goal No. 1
HART Pantry’s primary objective is to ensure that every high school student in need has access to food
when school-based meal programs are not in operation. Our goal is to fulfill 100% of requests for food
bags for 40 weeks each year. The HART Pantry tracks the number of requests and the number of bags
provided each week throughout the year.
Measurable Goal No. 2
Of the 450 at-risk teens we serve each week, 120 will graduate from high school. HART Pantry provides
$100 gift cards to each graduate every year, and the number of gift cards presented will serve as the
measure of this goal.
Measurable Goal No. 3
Reduce negative peer pressure related to limited access to personal hygiene products, clothing, and other
basic necessities by providing these items upon request. This goal is supported entirely through donations.
Progress will be measured by tracking the number of requests received and the number of hygiene items,
clothing items, and refurbished bicycles distributed to students each year.
Part 4: Funding Request
Total Community Partnership Grant Funding Requested
5,000.00
Minimum Community Partnership Grant Funding Requested
2,500.00
Is program or project implementation contingent upon receiving the full award?
No, HART Pantry has secured funding from a variety of community partners and supporters, including
churches, civic organizations, other grants, individual donors, fundraising events, and in-kind donations.
These diverse funding streams demonstrate strong and continued community support for the program and
help ensure sustainability of services for at-risk teens.
If approved for an amount less than 100% of your request, how will you address the shortfall?
HART Pantry is financially sound and responsibly managed. We maintain a rainy-day reserve capable of
sustaining full program operations for an entire year in the event of a complete loss of external funding.
This financial foresight ensures continuity of service for the vulnerable youth who rely on us.
Part 5: Program or Project Budget
Section A: Total Program or Project Budget
Total Cost of the Program or Project Operations
220,000.00
Total Program or Project Funding from Other Funding Sources
215,000.00
What other funding sources presently support this program or project?
HART Pantry has secured funding from a variety of community partners and supporters, including $7,500
from churches, $4,949 from civic organizations, $23,000 from grants, $37,275 from individual donors,
$2,762 from fundraising events, and $4,228 in in-kind donations. HART Pantry continuously works toward
securing funding throughout the year and maintains surplus funds to ensure program success. These
diverse funding streams demonstrate strong and continued community support for the program and help
ensure sustainability of services for at-risk teens.
Section B: Total Budget for Program or Project – Grant Award
Only
Grant Award Budget Narrative
Wages/Salaries
Employee-Related Expenses (ERE)
Professional Services & Outside Services
Training
Materials & Supplies
0
General Office Supplies
Administrative Cost (not to exceed $1,000 or
10% of grant request)
Program/Project Incentives (gift cards, food,
certificates of achievement)
Marketing/Outreach
Other
5,000.00
If you selected "Other" to the previous question,
please explain.
All fund received from El Mirage Community
Partnership Grant Program will be used to buy food
for at-rick teens.
Explain how grant funds will be utilized to support administrative costs for your project.
No administrative costs will be paid with funds received the El Mirage Community Partnership Grant.
100% of funds will be used to purchase food that will go directly the the at-risk teens we serve.
Section C: Program or Project Funding Sustainability
How will your organization generate or secure additional funding to sustain services for the
continued operation of this program or project?
HART Pantry fundraises year-round through grant writing, special events, and outreach to civic
organizations and individual donors. The program also receives valuable in-kind donations and ongoing
annual support from several local churches.
If the program receives less than the requested amount of funding, what adjustments, if any, would
be made to the program and services provided to El Mirage residents?
The HART Pantry will continue serving at-risk teens at Dysart High School and the Community Center
throughout the school year and will fulfill every request received from these partners regardless of this
grant’s outcome. We would sincerely appreciate any support from the El Mirage Community Partnership
Grant Program to further assist at-risk teens in El Mirage.
Part 6: Operational and Financial Status
Please upload the following required attachments:
Applicant organization's last two IRS Form 990 filings.
If your organization is not required to file a 990, upload a brief explanation.
Please upload attachment (1).
2024 990 HARTPANTRY (1).pdf
Please upload attachment (2).
2023 990 HARTPANTRY (1).pdf
If your organization does not have either document available, please explain below.
Authorized Representative Signature