More than 50 Avnet volunteers came together last weekend to support the Escalante Community Garden in Tempe as part of the company’s participation in the 33rd annual Serve-A-Thon, an annual day of service produced by HandsOn Greater Phoenix with projects across Arizona. Avnet has participated in Serve-A-Thon since its inception. This year’s project also marked a special milestone, celebrating Avnet’s headquarters move to Tempe.
Volunteers spent the day revitalizing the community garden through a variety of hands-on projects, including demolishing and rebuilding garden beds, sanding and staining existing beds, weeding, mulching, clearing older areas, and completing general landscaping and cleanup. The collective effort helped refresh a space that plays a vital role in supporting food access and community connection in Tempe.
The Escalante Community Garden is operated by Tempe Community Action Agency, the City of Tempe’s primary social service provider. The garden follows a communal growing model using healthy practices, with produce shared among volunteer gardeners and donated to the agency’s food pantry to supplement emergency food boxes. In addition to food production, the garden features a children’s area, as well as desert and herb gardens, making it a valuable resource for education and community engagement.
Through Serve-A-Thon, Avnet volunteers were proud to contribute their time and energy to a project that strengthens the local community and supports sustainable access to fresh food.