Support ASU Students This Summer: Pitchfork Pantry Seeks Congregational Help

Congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to support a growing ministry meeting real, immediate needs among college students in downtown Phoenix.

The Pitchfork Pantry, housed at Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, will remain open throughout the summer to serve students at Arizona State University Downtown Campus. This includes international students and others who remain in the area and rely on the pantry for food and hygiene essentials—without needing to travel to Tempe for support.

This ministry, connected to the Fresh Expressions community CONNECTIONS and supported through collaboration with the Council of Religious Advisors Downtown (CORA), reflects a deeply Lutheran commitment to care for neighbor in tangible ways. As Lutherans, we understand vocation not only as what we believe, but how we serve—and this is a clear opportunity to embody that calling.

Current Needs

Congregations and individuals are encouraged to organize food or hygiene drives. The pantry’s most-needed items include:

  • Rice, pasta, noodles

  • Canned meats (chicken, tuna, salmon, beef)

  • Canned vegetables and fruit

  • Soups, beans, and ready-to-eat meals

  • Peanut butter and protein bars

  • Milk and non-dairy alternatives

  • Snacks and breakfast bars

  • Electrolyte drinks or powders

  • Potatoes

  • Feminine hygiene and personal care items (shampoo, deodorant, razors, etc.)

  • Bottled water

How to Give

  • Drop off donations on Tuesday evenings during CONNECTIONS gatherings at Grace Lutheran

  • Or leave items in Hope Hall at Grace Lutheran, and volunteers will deliver them to the pantry

Please note: the pantry will briefly pause operations during a summer transition as student leadership hands off to CONNECTION volunteers, including Grace members continuing their service after graduation.

A Ministry Rooted in Relationship

This work is about more than food—it is about connection. Recent gatherings served nearly 200 students through shared meals, including pancakes and homemade cookies, demonstrating the power of collaboration between congregation members and community partners.

In a time when many students quietly struggle with food insecurity, ministries like Pitchfork Pantry offer both nourishment and dignity. This is the church at its best: present, responsive, and rooted in Christ’s call to love our neighbor.

Congregations are encouraged to consider how they might participate—through a collection drive, direct donation, or simply spreading the word.

For more information or to coordinate support, please contact Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardGrace Phoenix, Capital Conference, Youth and Young AdultComment