>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT TOM HORN JOINS US TO TALK ABOUTING ISSUES.

TONIGHT THE GROWING PROBLEM OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS IN NETWORK AND FOOD INSECURITY AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

GOVERNOR HOBBS ANNOUNCED THE CHIEF OF STAFF, BONES, AND NO REASON WAS GIVEN AND BONES HAD BEEN WITH HER SINCE SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS ON THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE.

>>> FORMER REPUBLICAN KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON SAID SHE HOPES THE G.O.P CAN WIN IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON LOST FOR GOVERNOR LAST YEAR AND LAKE WOUND UP LOSING TO KATIE HOBBS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON LEAVES MARK LAMB AS THE ONLY NOTABLE REPUBLICAN FOR THE RACE.

GALLEGO >>> THE FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCED THE FOUNDER OF THE OATH KEEPERS TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN THE JANUARY 6th RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

STEWART RHODES IS THE FIRST OF THE DEFENDANTS TO BE CONVICTED OF IS SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY.

THE SENTENCE IS LIKELY TO BE A BENCHMARK FOR OTHER JANUARY 6th CASES AWAITING SENTENCING IN THE COMING MONTHS.

>>> THE PRESIDENT OF MICROSOFT CALLED FOR FEDERAL LEADERS TO REGULATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

BRAD SMITH SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND LAID OUT A FIVE-POINT PLAN FOR ADDRESSING RISKS AND A NEW FEDERAL AGENCY FOR AI OVERSIGHT AND COMPANIES THAT COMPETE WITH RIVALS IN CHINA.

>>> AND RESEARCHERS FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH HAVE IDENTIFIED 12 SYMPTOMS THAT RELIABLY CLASSIFY SOMEONE AS HAVING LONG COVID.

IT INCLUDES FATIGUE, BRAIN FOG AND DIZZINESS WITH GASTROINTENSE GASTROINTENSETYGASTROINTESTNYIAL ISSUES.

>>> VOUCHERS EXPANSION PROFICIENCY TESTS AND CRITICAL RACE THEORIES AND TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE IS ARIZONA SUPERINTENDENT AND PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, TOM HORN.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN THIS OFFICE IN.

>> THE?

>> IT'S MUCH MORE DIRE WITH LOWER TEST SCORES AND THAT'S THE TOTAL FOCUS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THE REASON I RAN AGAIN.

WHEN I ANNOUNCED I WAS RUNNING, TOM, YOU'RE GOING BACKWARDS.

SO WE'VE GOT ALL 600 PEOPLE FOCUSED ON ONE GOAL AND THAT IS THAT THE STUDENTS LEARN MORE.

AND ANYBODY WHO WAS DOING ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THAT GOAL, IT CHANGES WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I HAVE 600 PEOPLE WORKING HARD TO BE SURE THAT STUDENTS LEARN MORE.

THEY'VE GOT LEARN MORE IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> YOU HAVE CALLED FOR A LOWER CRITERIA TO PASS THE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST.

WHAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND THAT?

>> YES, WELL, THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE INITIATIVE.

THERE'S A VOTER PASS INITIATIVE TO SEE NO MORE DUAL LANGUAGE.

MARGARET GARCIA DUGAN.

SHE WAS MY CHIEF STAFF AND SHE SAYS THAT THE PURPOSE OF WHAT WAS PASSED IS THAT STUDENTS LEARN ENOUGH ENGLISH TO DO WELL IN REGULAR CLASSES, NOT TO BE PERFECT.

THE WAY IT'S BEEN IN RECENT YEARS, YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THEY DON'T PASS A WRITING TEST AND THEY GIVE THE SAME WRITING TESTS TO THE REGULAR KIDS AND PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH AND FUNCTION AS WELL IN AN ENGLISH CLASSROOM.

WE'VE GOT TO CORRECT THAT.

>> Ted: INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE PASS, FAIL TEST SCORES AND WHY NOT IMPROVE IT?

>> OH, BOY, ARE WE EVERY CHANGING THE WAY IT'S TAUGHT.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IF 2023, THERE WAS AN INITIAL PASS BY THE SOCIETY ESSAYING ENGLISH EMERSION AND THE TWO SUPERINTENDENTS DIDN'T ENFORCE IT.

I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO ENFORCE IT.

AT THAT TIME, EVERYTHING WAS BILINGUAL AND 4% BECAME PROFICIENT.

WE INSTITUTED STRUCTURED ENGLISH EMERSION AND MORE IMPORTANT, AT A VERY INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM TO TRAIN TEACHERS AND WE GOT THE RATE UP FROM 4% TO 29% AT THAT RATE AND ALMOST EVERYONE IS PROFICIENT AND THEN AFTER I LEFT, THEY, IN MY OPINION, VIOLATED THE LAW BY BRINGING BACK DUAL LANGUAGE AND DOWN TO 9%.

>> Ted: IN ORDER TO GET IT UP, LOWERING TEST SCORES WILL BRING IT BACK UP, IS TO PUMP UP THESE NUMBERS.

VALID POINT?

>> TOLDLY INVALID.

THEY AGREED AND QUESTIONED MY MOTIVES.

ONLY SOMEONE WITH A WEAK INTELLECT WOULD TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE AND ATTACK PEOPLE'S MOTIVES.

>> Ted: WE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PEOPLE LOOKING INTO THIS IDEA THAT KIDS WERE WRONGLY MOVED OUT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THAT IS A FACTOR AND THAT DOES PLAY.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME TO ME AND SAID WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT AND IF YOU WANT TO INFLUENCE ME, SUE ME.

I KNOW WHERE THE COURTHOUSE IS.

AND JOHN LOOPE.

>> Ted: HOW DOES THIS HELP?

>> THEY CAN FUNCTION WELL.

4% OF KIDS WERE BECOMING POE EFFICIENTPROFICIENT AND A COMPLETE FAILURE.

I SAW AN ARTICLE WHERE THEY QUOTE THEORETICAL PROFESSORS SAYING HOW WELL THIS IS AND THESE PROFESSORS DON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF WHAT HAPPENED.

WE BROUGHT IN STRUCTURED ENGLISH EMERSION FROM 4% TO 24%.

>> Ted: THE VOUCHER EXPANSION, THE GOVERNOR KILLED $4 MILLION THAT GOVERNOR DUCEY PUT IT TO COVER ALL DAY K FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES THAT WANT TO USE THE VOUCHERS.

THIS WAS INTENDED FOR EDUCATIONAL DISPARITY AND DISCREPANCY AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

DOES SHE HAVE A POINT?

>> I SEE IT DIFFERENTLY.

ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AS THE SAME TIME I WAS SUPERINTENDENT THE FIRST TIME AND I AGREED WITH HER AND SO WE MADE IT A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

I WENT WITH HER TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WE SAID, LET'S DO IT BIPARTISAN.

I GOT REPUBLICAN VOTES AND IT PASSED.

A LOT OF STUDENTS LEARNED TO READ IN KINDERGARTEN BECAUSE THEY HAD IT ALL DAY.

THIS MUCH HARDER WHEN YOU HAVE A HALF DAY.

NOW THEY HAD TO STOP IN 2008 BECAUSE OF THE RECESSION, BUT WE NEED IT BACK BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST FOR STUDENT'S EDUCATION IS TO HAVE ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

TO TAKE AWAY $50 MILLION THAT TEACHES KIDS -- HAVE KIDS IN KINDERGARTEN TO LEARN TO READ IS ANTIEDUCATION.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT USING THAT $50 MILLION TO MAKE SURE LOWER INCOME KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE THE MONEY MAY NOT BE AS NEEDED IF NEEDED AT ALL IN WHY NOT FOCUS ON OTHER KIDS?

>> WE CALL THAT THE FALLACY OF THE ACADEMY.

WE HAVE TO DO BOTH.

WE'RE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO HAVE KIDS TO DO BETTER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EVEN A VERY GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY NOT NEED THE NEEDS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY WANT THE STUDENT TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, THAT SHOULD BE THE PARENT'S CHOICE AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS, ARE THE STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS MET AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> Ted: THE ARGUMENT WOULD BE IF THAT SCHOOL IS NOT MEETING NEEDS, FIX IT AND DON'T FUNNEL MONEY OUT AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THE AVERAGE TUITION IS TEN THOUSAND CUT IN TUITION AND A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY GOT THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ARE GOING INTO FIXING IT.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON HELPING THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS TO DO BETTER.

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS COMPETITION.

I REMEMBER WHEN I SERVED 24 YEARS ON A SCHOOL BOARD AND I WOULD GO NEGOTIATIONS WITH TEACHERS.

YOU NEED TO CUT OUT ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PLACED AND I SAID, IF YOU DO THAT, YOU LOSE ALL OF YOUR BEST STUDENTS TO CHARTER STUDENTS.

THEY DROPPED THE TOPIC AND I NEVER HEARD IT AGAIN.

COMPETITION MAKES PEOPLE DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY FOR STUDENTS AND COMPETITION IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Ted: THE VOUCHER EXPANSION, 2.0 AND YOU KNOW WHAT ALL-FUELS IS ABOUT AND YOU WERE AROUND.

>> I DID NOT BUY A CAR.

>> Ted: AND HAVE A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE.

BE THAT AS IT MAY -- >> I WAS IN LEGISLATURE AT THE TIME.

>> Ted: IT COULD GET OUT OF CONTROL AND NOT HITTING THEKIES THE KIDS IT WAS DESIGNED TO HIT BUT PEOPLE WHO COULD AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WHY NOT PUSH TO WHERE THE UNDERSERVED KIDS AND COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT OPTION AND THAT CHOICE, THEY'RE FIRST IN LINE.

>> GREAT MINDS WORK ALIKE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, INTENSIVE ADVERTISING TO BRING ATTENTION TO OTHER PEOPLE, NOT THE RICH PEOPLE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING AND GET RIGHT INTO IT, BUT A LOT OF SPANISH ADVERTISING AND AIMED AT THE POORER FAMILIES, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT I SAY IN THE AD IS MY JOB IS TO ENCOURAGE EXCELLENCE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IF THE SCHOOL IS NOT MEETING YOUR CHILD'S NEED, YOU HAVE CHOICES AND IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE, YOU CAN LEARN ALL ABOUT THAT.

>> Ted: THE CONCERN IS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OVERSIGHT AND FRAUD, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF BUT WHEN AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THIS COULD BLOW UP.

IS THAT YOUR CONCERN, TOO?

>> IT WAS, BECAUSE UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS MONEY USED FOR NONEDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND THE LAW WAS NOT ENFORCED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNFRIENDLY TO THE ESA'S.

I'VE CRACKED DOWN AND I'VE SAID, WE CANNOT HAVE A SINGLE DOLLAR GO FOR A NONEDUCATIONAL PURPOSE BUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH EVERY LAW.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTS AND PEOPLE LIKED THE OLD SYSTEM BETTER BUT I'M INSISTING, WE'LL DO THIS PERFECTLY AND NOT ONE DOLLAR TO GO FOR A NONEDUCATIONAL PURPOSE AND WE'LL STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE LAW IN IMPLEMENTING THIS LAW.

>> Ted: THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR ON VOUCHER EXPANSION?

ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THAT?

>> NO.

>> Ted: I THOUGHT YOU WERE A PART OF THAT?

>> NO.

>> Ted: I GUESS WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY THINK AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I'M IMPLEMENTING THAT AND WE'LL STICK BY THE LAW AND USE EVERY DOLLAR FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

IF THERE'S ANY FRAUD, IT'S IN THE PAST BUT NOT THE PRESENT.

>> Ted: TOM HORN, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, THE TOLL THAT ISOLATION AND LONELINESS CAN TAKE ON OLDER AMERICANS.

>> THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL ISSUED AN ADVISORY ON LONELINESS IN THE U.S. AND DESCRIBES A LACK OF CONNECTION IN THE COUNTRY AS AN EPIDEMIC WITH REAL HELL HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS AND JOINING US NOW IS BARRET MICHAELEC AND DEFINE ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AND ESPECIALLY AMONG THE EDERLY WHICH IS WHERE WE HEAR A LOT OF THIS.

>> SO ISOLATION IS NOT BEING A PART OR BEING OSAR OSSTERRIZED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND NOT FEELING CONNECTED IN THAT WAY.

LONELINESS IS THAT FEELING OF THAT ISOLATION AND HOW WE MIGHT HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO A PLACE, THAT SENSE OF LONELINESS, THAT SENSE OF DISTRACTION AND DISTANCE FROM OTHERS.

>> Ted: WE TALK ABOUT THE EDERLY, BUT IN ADULTS, THIS IS RISING IN ALL AGE GROUPS, IS IT NOT?

>> AMONGST ADULTS, OLDER ADULTS AND AMONGST THE YOUTH.

YOUNG ADULTS, ANYWHERE FROM PRETEENS TO TEENS TO YOUNG YOUNG ADULTS.

>> Ted: AS DAMAGING AS SMOKING AND OBESITY.

>> INCREASE IN HEART DISEASE, PREMATURE DEATH, A RAISE IN ALZHEIMER'S RELATED TO LONELINESS AND ISOLATION.

>> Ted: A DEVASTATING IMPACT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU AGREE.

>> NOT JUST ON THAT PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, BUT THE PHYSICAL AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT, BUT ALSO ON THE SOCIAL LEVEL IN MATERIALS OF IN TERMS OF WORKPLACE, ENVIRONMENTS AND ALL OF THAT.

>> Ted: WHY IS THERE SUCH A LACK OF CONNECT?

>> CONNECTION?

>> THIS IS LAID OUT IN THE RATHER.

RAISING IT ALARMS OF ISOLATION FOR DECADES.

AND SO, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVING FOR JOBS, MOVING THEIR FAMILIES AND TAKING NEW JOBS AND TRANSFERRING AND THE GREAT MIGRATION.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT, BUT A LACK OF ENGAGEMENT IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PERSONAL GROUPS, CHURCH GROUPS.

>> Ted: I KNOW THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS FROM THE SOUTHERN GENERAL AND OTHERS INVOLVED AND ONE IS A STRENGTH IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

PARKS, LIBRARIES, PLAYGROUNDS JUST LIKE WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP.

>> Ted: THAT'S A GREAT PUSH AND WE SEE PUSHES WITH THE POLICY OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET ENGAUGED.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO START FOCUSING ON A MORE NATIONAL LEVEL AND LOOKING AT THE WHAT DIVIDES US IN TERMS OF FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL CAPITAL.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT PUSH AWAY THAT CONNECTION.

>> Ted: PAID FAMILY LEAVE, ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WHICH HELP BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER.

>> NOT JUST BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER, BUT THAT'S ONE LESS THING TO BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

YOU'LL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE DESIRE, PERHAPS, AND WILLINGNESS TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS.

>> Ted: A HEALTH SECTOR AND NEEDING TO ASSESS HEALTH AND LONELINESS.

>> THAT'S A CHALLENGE AND MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO IRON OUT IN THE DETAILS AND AN ONUS AND WHAT WE MEAN AND THE DIAGNOSIC CRITERIA IS AND THE DIFFERENCE IS AND SOMEWHAT AKIN TO AND TEASING THAT IT AND LOOKING AT IT AND ALSO, WE LOOK AT IT WITH OURSELVES, AS WELL.

WE HAVE A DESIRE TO CONNECT AND WE'RE BUILT TO CONNECT AND WE NEED IT.

WE HAVE AN INNATE NEED TO BELONG AND CATCH THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS.

WE'RE MADE FOR THIS.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK TO BE VULNERABLE WITH OUR FELLOW PARTNERS, AS WELL.

>> Ted: I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HALF OF US SPEND OURSELVES STARING INTO A PHONE, AND THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE, THAT HAS TO BE A FACTOR.

>> SO THERE WAS ANOTHER REPORT THAT CAME OUT EITHER YESTERDAY FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL, REVIEWING THE EFFECT ON THE YOUTH, ESPECIALLY, BUT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS THAT TECHNOLOGY DOES ALLOW US TO MAKE.

WHAT IS THE STRENGTH OF THOSE CONNECTIONS?

WHAT ARE WE GETTING FROM THOSE CONNECTIONS?

WHAT'S THE GOOD STUFF AND NEGATIVE CRITERIA?

ARE WE IN SOME SORT OF ABYSS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE OR ARE WE MAKING AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS?

>> Ted: THAT SAID, 30 SECONDS LEFT?

ARE WE WE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

WITH AI, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BRAVE WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> THE SURGEON GENERAL PUT OUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL ISOLATION LIKE EMPA EMPATHY, HUMILITY OR KINDNESS.

WE ARE ON A GOOD TRACK OF BRINGING THIS TO THE PUBLIC SPHERE AND NECESSARY TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC IMPACT.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR US, BARRET MICHAELEC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: FOOD INSECURITY AFFECTS NEARLY 34 MILLION AMERICANS AND NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

UNITED FOOD BANK WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MESA FOR NEW PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND HERE WITH MORE IS THE UNITED NEED BANK'S CHIEF PROGRAM'S OFFICER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S DEFINE TERMS, FOOD INSECURITY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> A KIN LACK CONSISTENT LACK OF ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOOD.

IN ARIZONA WE HAD A ONE IN TEN.

>> Ted: NUMBER IS GOING UP?

>> GOING UP.

THE SENIORS, IT'S ONE IN 14 AND KIDS ONE IN SEVEN.

>> Ted: WHY ARE THEY INCREASING SO MUCH?

>> I THINK A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

COVID PROVIDED THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE TO GET FOOD AND SO I THINK, PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT TO GET FOOD AND INFLATION, RISING COSTS OF FOODS AND RISING RENT, I THINK PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING THEIR BILLS AND GETTING FOOD.

>> Ted: FOOD SHORTAGES AND HOW IS THAT HAPPENING IN THIS LAND OF PLENTY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

OVERALL, JUST EMPLOYEES, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE FOOD PRODUCED ISN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND.

>> Ted: RESTAURANTS SEEING THE SAME KIND OF THING AND RESTAURANTS SPILL OVER, AS WELL, WITH HELPING FOLKS WITH FOOD?

>> WE PARTNER WITH "WASTE NOT" AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR RESTAURANTS TO PICK UP FOOD NOT PRESENTED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION AND THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE'RE INNOVATIVE ABOUT HOW WE'RE FEEDING PEOPLE.

>> Ted: THIS SOUNDS AS THOUGH AND WE HEAR THIS WITH HOMELESSNESS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ONE EMERGENCY AWAY FROM, "WELCOME TO THE FOOD DESERT."

>> THAT'S SO TRUE.

PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE FOR FOOD.

MY HUSBAND GOT LAID OFF, MY SON NEEDS SPECIAL CARE AND SOMEONE DIED AND FUNERALS ARE EXPENSIVE.

IT'S A VARIETY OF REASONS.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

>> Ted: AND GETTING WORSE.

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT WAYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

LITTLE THINGS, HOSTING A FOOD DRIVE.

>> HOSTING A FOOD DRIVE, YEAH.

A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS TO SORT FOOD AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY AND LAUNCHING A HYDRATION CAMPAIGN TO RAISE WATER FOR PEOPLE DURING THE SUMMER SO THAT'S LAUNCHING SOON, BUT YEAH, HOSTING A FOOD DRIVE IS GREAT.

>> Ted: HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> YOU JUST TALK TO YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOU TALK TO YOUR OFFICE OR WHATEVER MAKES SENSE FOR YOU AND CALL US AND WE CAN COME AND PICK IT UP AND GIVE YOU FLIERS OR BOXES TO COLLECT THE FOOD.

>> Ted: SO BRING IN YOUR NON-PARISHABLES?

>> YES.

WE SORT IT.

>> Ted: VOLUNTEERING AT A LOCAL FOOD BANK OR PANTRY AND THAT HELPS, TOO?

>> YES.

IT GIVES VOLUNTEERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HUNGER AND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PUPABOUT.

SO BUILDING EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS OR SORTING FOOD THAT WE GET FROM THE FOOD DRIVES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR AT ONE OF THE AGENCIES AND WE HAVE 150 IN OUR SERVICE AREA, WOULD BE ACTUALLY HANDING FOOD OUT AND CONNECTING IT.

>> Ted: DONATING FOOD FOR A FOOD DRIVE AND YOU CAN DONATE TO THE FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S HELPFUL.

TEE SOMETHING FORHELPFUL.

>> Ted: AND DONATING MONEY.

YOU'LL NEVER SAY NO TO THAT.

>> WE CAN STRETCH THE FOOD DOLLAR.

>> Ted: THE CITY OF MESA HAS PARTNERED WITH YOU FOR $5 MILLION FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> THIS STARTED DURING COVID WHERE WE OUTGREW THE BUILDING WE WERE DOING OUR DISTRIBUTION AND WE CONNECTED WITH THE CITY OF MEAS AND SAID COME TO OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND DID THE PUBLIC FACING DISTRIBUTIONS OUT OF THERE FOR A YEAR AND THROUGH THAT, WE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY MESA PEOPLE AND THEY SAW THE NEED AND IT WAS IN THEIR FRONTYARD AND PARKING LOT, RIGHT, AND THEN THAT GOT THEM REALLY ENGAGED AND SAW THE IMPACT.

FROM THAT, WE JUST FORMED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, HEY, WE HAVE ARPA FUNDING AND WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE.

WE CREATED A PARTNERSHIP AND YEAH.

>> Ted: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OVER THREE YEARS AND HOW WILL YOU SPEND THE MONEY?

>> TBD, TO SUPPORT OUR OPERATIONS AND WE'RE IN A TIME OF REINVENTING OURSELVES AND HOW TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE PERSON AND PERSON'S NEEDS AND NOT JUST THEIR FOOD NEEDS.

>> Ted: I MENTIONED THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY.

I MEAN, SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES THAT ARE ADDRESSABLE.

>> YEAH, I THINK EMPLOYMENT IS A BIG ONE, GIVING PEOPLE JOB SKILLS THAT CAN HELP THEM PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY IN AN ONGOING SORT OF WAY AND EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND I THINK CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY AND OTHER RESOURCES AND CONNECTING WITH A RENT ASSISTANCE PLACE TO STAY IN THE HOWS THEY'RE IN AND SIGNING UP FOR SNAP.

THIS IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, JUST GETTING TO KNOW THE PERSON, WHAT THEY NEED AND HOW TO PLUG THEM IN.

>> Ted: A LOT MORE THAN THEY THINK OF A FOOD BANK.

YOU THINK A LOT MORE.

>> WIDE RANGE.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS AND HELPING FOLKS AND THAT $5 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THAT WILL COME IN HANDY AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.