Bringing our rural communities together

Video by Troy Hill

"This community here is incredible," said Shaun, a veteran and regular guest at the Dolan Springs SVdP food distribution.

Dolan Springs is a small rural community in northwestern Arizona. Many residents are people seeking a different kind of life: Retirement from a long career, a slower pace from the city, or a simpler community to raise their kids in. It’s a classic American small town. It's surrounded by a stark Arizona high desert, there is one main road, one general store, and no stoplight.

It’s also a community deep in poverty, and many of its residents struggle to put food on the table every month. 

This very isolation that drew so many to it is also one of the community’s greatest challenges. The nearest grocery store is a 45-minute drive south to Kingman, or an hour north in Las Vegas. 

That's why the neighbors came together with the support of St. Vincent de Paul to host a twice-monthly food distribution. The line starts forming early in the morning. Pansy, a regular guest at the food distribution, is known for often being the first in line, sometimes coming as early as 2 a.m.. 

"I need the food," she said. "If it wasn't a need, I wouldn't come. But I need it." 

Shaun also emphasized how much the distribution helped many in the community.

"This really helps. It makes a difference," Shaun said. "I don't know how I would make it without the distribution. It's a godsend. There are so many people that come through here who have to have this help. They will not make it without this help."

Watch the video above to get the full experience and hear from the myriad voices in Dolan Springs.