About

Founded in 2003 by Dr. Barbara Eiswerth, Ph.D., Iskashitaa Refugee Network creates opportunities to integrate UN Refugees with food-based programs into the South Arizona community while strengthening the local food system, reducing local food waste and increasing food security. 

Iskashitaa's harvesting programs provide refugees with an important immersion experience into American culture which is vital to their successfully becoming citizens. Refugees receive fresh, nutritious foods, gain experience navigating Tucson, meet other volunteers, practice English, & build skills for jobs in food service, retail, landscaping & maintenance, furthering their community integration. Iskashitaa's Refugee Garden Art Program empowers refugees by creating opportunities to use their knowledge of gardening & the sharing of their culture (& sometimes their dishes) of their home countries at our weekly sessions, helping their families feel welcome in the Tucson community.  The language of food is the universal language!

Harvesting local food to feed families, instead of landfills. Community volunteers & refugees work side by side on a weekly basis to annually harvest & redistribute more than 100,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, & nuts from backyard trees, orchards, & farms. After sorting & culling, harvested produce is redistributed to refugee families, food banks, soup kitchens, schools, food insecure individuals, & families throughout Southern Arizona. Nutritious food that may otherwise go into a landfill, instead goes to sustain Tucson families, reduce waste & support local sustainable food initiatives. No fruit left behind! 

Please visit our website: https://www.iskashitaa.org for more information, volunteer opportunities, events and to shop our online IskaShop, for unique small batch handmade marmalades, jams & jellies made from our locally harvested citrus & produce. Other programs include a monthly Food Preservation Workshop and Sala de Libros. The Salas are an intergenerational literacy exchange in a space to practice languages, exchange cultures, knowledge, and ideas, and build community together. 

Harvesting against hunger since 2003!