303 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine SOCIAL SERVICES AND NONPROFIT communities. The Pantry also works with community professionals and organizations to serve veterans, homeless, homebound and senior communities, among others. Mr. Shoaf worked for United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS) for nearly 30 years, and the local public school district for another 10 years, before retiring to pursue his vision of Maricopa Pantry. In addition to weekly food distributions, he supports other small pantries with available food. He is Santa Claus every December, serving both underprivileged families and sensorysensitive children. He organizes a community multi-cultural Thanksgiving potluck for residents who have no local family. He provides community service opportunities for students needing to accumulate hours. He promotes local small and self-owned businesses, and with them promotes a healthier, more unified community that engulfs rural, horse acreage and city residents. All this is accomplished with his army of more than 40 volunteers who share his vision and focus their efforts on working together to serve others. Mr. Shoaf is especially proud of his efforts in providing disaster relief when needed. Maricopa Pantry provided 10,000 pounds of food, water and hygiene products to Gila Bend, Arizona, following a devastating flood in 2021. Fifteen thousand pounds went to the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. A documentary titled “Still Standing – Copa Central Command” highlights the supplies and services delivered to Rockport, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey. In the coming years, Mr. Shoaf hopes to continue finding ways to help both residents and volunteers to serve, be served and grow together. His present project is building a warehouse that will enable more services such as counseling, job training and hot meals. His motto is “neighbors helping neighbors,” and he strives to live it. Paul James Shoaf has cultivated a career of excellence as a civic-minded citizen. With over four decades of experience, he founded Maricopa Pantry in 2004 to serve his community. The nonprofit organization operates purely on donations and serves an average of 1,500 families weekly in Maricopa, Arizona, and its surrounding PAUL JAMES SHOAF FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Maricopa Pantry Maricopa, AZ
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