The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizonaβs Caridad Community Kitchen was the top vote-getter in Tucson Electric Powerβs βPowerful Choice Challenge,β earning the program a $125,000 contribution from the company.
The food bank received 5,450 online votes, 2,113 more than the next highest finisher among the five charities taking part in the 10-day contest, which recently concluded.
TEPβs donation will support the Caridad Kitchen, which provides culinary and job skills training to people with limited incomes.
The four other charities in the challenge received donations from TEP based on the number of votes they received:
Tucson Values Teachers, $20,000; Junior Achievement of Arizona, $10,000; Primavera Foundation, $5,000; and Habitat for Humanity Tucson, $5,000.
βTEP is proud to support these five organizations. Their remarkable efforts and programs enrich and improve the quality of life in our community,β said TEP President and CEO David G. Hutchens, in a news release.
The kitchen provides meals for various meal programs, a 10-week culinary training program for the unemployed and underemployed, and a catering service. The space was recently expanded from about 1,000 square feet to 3,000 square feet.
This kitchen, at 845 N. Main Ave., will use the new space to increase the number of meals it prepares.
