Tempe, Maricopa County break ground on East Valley shelter and services center

Tempe Community Action Agency and Maricopa County broke ground on the East Valley Housing, Health and Human Services Center, organizers said. The project will combine expanded food distribution, a commercial kitchen for senior meals and Meals on Wheels, and shelter and housing units aimed at people experiencing homelessness.

Speakers at the event said the center will include a market-style food pantry and a commercial-grade kitchen for Meals on Wheels and other senior meals. "This new facility will hold our expanded food pantry, which will become a market style pantry, a commercial kitchen for Meals on Wheels and all of the senior meals that we do, as well as a permanent shelter," Speaker 3, a staff member, said. "So we'll have 68 beds in a…