Mesa Elementary School Operates Free Marketplace for Students and Families in Need

The Lehi Marketplace provides clothing, food, and household essentials to support local families.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:36am

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Lehi Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona has established the Lehi Marketplace, a free resource center stocked with donated clothing, non-perishable food, and household items to support students and their families in need. The goal is to ensure all students have access to basic necessities, with no questions asked.

Why it matters

The Lehi Marketplace addresses food and material insecurity faced by many families in the local community, providing essential items that students may lack access to at home. By creating this resource center on campus, the school aims to remove barriers and stigma so that all students can focus on their education.

The details

The Lehi Marketplace is housed in an empty classroom at the school and is stocked with racks of donated new children's clothing, shoes, canned goods, boxed meals, hygiene products, and household essentials like laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. Family Support Specialist Lidia Severson oversees the marketplace and works to connect families with the resources they need.

  • The Lehi Marketplace was established at Lehi Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona.
  • The marketplace is currently open and accepting donations.

The players

Lehi Elementary School

A public elementary school in Mesa, Arizona that has created the Lehi Marketplace to support students and families in need.

Lidia Severson

The Family Support Specialist at Lehi Elementary School who oversees the operations of the Lehi Marketplace.

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What they’re saying

“I get very emotional because I can see the need and the happiness when I help a parent. And I wish I had more to be able to help them more.”

— Lidia Severson, Family Support Specialist

What’s next

The school is currently seeking donations of toilet paper, hygiene products, and non-perishable food items to stock the Lehi Marketplace. Interested community members can call the school's main office at 480-472-5500 to coordinate donations.

The takeaway

The Lehi Marketplace demonstrates how schools can take an active role in supporting the basic needs of their students and local families, fostering an environment where all children have the resources they need to succeed academically and thrive.