Roberto Mejias, Ph.D., teaches Management Information Systems (MIS) classes at the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management.  He also gives his students important life lessons in what he terms corporate social responsibility or “CSR”.

Dr. Mejias frequently invites guests from non-profit organizations to briefly speak to his MIS students about community needs and social issues. He knows many of his Eller students will become future corporate leaders and his primary mission has been to provide them with a world class MIS education and inspire them to also understand how technology can assist socially conscious business leaders in improving world conditions. Dr. Mejias encourages his MIS students to be fully aware of their profound opportunities to create organizational cultures that support philanthropy and community service.

On April 15, 2008, Dr. Mejias invited Holly Altman from the UA Office of Community Relations to speak to his MIS classes about UA4Food, the campus-wide food drive benefitting the Community Food Bank’s Child Hunger and Nutrition Program.  His MIS students were surprised and shocked by the gravity of this situation in Arizona. Using the UA’s Blackboard course technology, Dr. Mejias invited his MIS students to join him in a “quick” UA4food drive to donate canned meats, peanut butter and canned vegetables.  Two collections on April 22nd, at the Eller Berger Auditorium, realized food donations of 1,592 pounds. 

“Dr. Mejias’ MIS students came through with almost 1,600 pounds of food, collected within about a half hour, which is remarkable,” said Holly Altman.  “As future business leaders these Eller students learned a valuable lesson in using technology to support community service and they will be pleased to know these food items will go far to help struggling families.”

For more information, contact Holly Altman at (520) 626-4671 or Roberto Mejias, Ph.D. at (520) 621-3600

Elsa F. Pratt, Full Charge Bookkeeper for the Community Food Bank was honored on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Food Bank’s monthly Board Meeting for twenty-five years of outstanding service to the organization.

Ms. Pratt started at the Community Food Bank on April 25, 1983 as a Bookkeeper and was promoted to Full Charge Bookkeeper in October of 1998.  She is known, by her co-workers, for her ability to interact positively with virtually anyone with whom she comes in contact.

“Elsa’s twenty-five years of experience are a valuable asset to the Community Food Bank,” said Dan Walters,  Food Bank Director of Finance.  “She has seen our annual food distribution grow from less than 500,000 pounds per year to nearly 15,000,000 pounds.  As a full charge bookkeeper, her primary focus is accounting for our inventory to meet the requirement of our financial audits and audits performed by our donor organizations.”

Ms. Pratt is originally from Douglas, Arizona and now resides in Tucson with her husband Rollin. Elsa and Rollin Pratt have three children, daughter Celina and sons Ralph and Rollin.

The Community Food Bank’s Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market will celebrate its grand opening at a new location on Thursday, April 24, 2008 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM.  The new location is at the NE Corner of Speedway and Riverview (between the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind and El Rio Neighborhood Center).

 The Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market features locally grown fruits and vegetables, desert plants and seedlings for the garden, citrus trees, honey, Mexican baked goods and tortillas, fresh eggs, Tohono O’odham traditional crops and dried goods all direct from producers.  Produce now in season includes snow peas, fava beans, carrots, beets, greens, salad greens, salad turnips, citrus fruit, fennel and fresh herbs.

 In 2007, Eating Well magazine recognized Tucson’s Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market as one of “America’s Top 10 Farmers’ Markets.”  To be eligible, markets had to offer food produced locally, sold directly and cultivated in an environmentally conscious way.

 “We are really pleased with our new location that should be easier for our customers to find,” said Kelly Watters, Farmers’ Market Manager.  Plans for the Grand Opening Celebration include live music by Jennifer Freidman, preview performance of “We Are What We Eat,” a collaboration between the CFB and NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre that celebrates the human connection to food and the systems that feed us. Also there will be a Spring Seed Exchange and “Food Fun and Reading” activities for kids.

 The Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market is operated by the Community Food Bank and started in August of 2005.  The Market accepts Quest cards or food stamps, WIC and Senior farmers’ market vouchers, cash, MasterCard and Visa debit or credit cards.

 For more information, contact Kelly Watters at (520) 622-0525 x 242 or kwatters@communityfoodbank.org.

To view the Winter 2008 issue of the Community Food Bank’s newletter the Nourishing News, Click Here (.PDF)

The 2008 UA4Food Drive continues on Sunday, April 13, 2008 with the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) “Run for Your Life” 5 K run on the U of A Mall (west end).

Registration begins at 7:30 AM and the 5 K run for your life starts at 9:00 AM.  On site registration is $20.  There will be food and beverages, DJ entertainment provided by KXCI Community Radio, a raffle and many prizes.

The UA4Food Drive brings together the efforts of the University of Arizona faculty, staff and local merchants.  Proceeds from this year’s UA4Food Drive will benefit the Community Food Bank’s Child Hunger and Nutrition Programs.  They are “Kids Club”, “Snak Paks for Kids”® and “Summer Meals.”

For more information on the SHAC “Run for Your Life” 5 K run contact David Salafsky at 621-8297 or log on to http://www.rfyl.arizona.edu/event.htm.

The Kino Sports Complex Community Center will hold an Empty Bowl Luncheon on Thursday, April 17, 2008 to benefit the Community Food Bank. Guests may drop by any time between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM at 2805 East Ajo Way. 

Participants will receive a beautifully handcrafted ceramic bowl donated by members of the Southern Arizona Clay Artists.  Lunches are $10.00 each and include a variety of soups to sample, bread and the ceramic bowl to take home as a reminder of hunger in our community.

Net proceeds from the Empty Bowl Luncheon will go to feed hungry people in Southern Arizona.

For information on the Kino Sports Complex Community Center’s Empty Bowl Luncheon on April 17th contact Mary Avizu, Community Center Coordinator at (520) 740-4651 or marvizu@pima.gov

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Lodge 933. Golf Tournament at Santa Rita Golf Course (16461 S. Houghton Rd.) to benefit the Community Food Bank. Four person scramble with a 7:30 AM Shotgun start. $60 per person or a foursome for $200.00. Information at http://www.iam933.org..

The Community Food Bank & NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre Present:

We Are What We Eat
Stories and dance about the food we eat and the systems that feed us
Featuring choreography and dance by NEW ARTiculations artists as well as Tucson community
members who love to eat, cook, grow food, and dance!
3 performances:

Thursday, April 24   
5:00 pm (free, excerpts only)
Santa Cruz River Farmer’s Market (new location)
1390 W. Speedway Blvd.

Saturday, April 26    
2:30 pm (free) 
Community Food Bank
3003 S. Country Club Rd.

Sunday, April 27   
6:00 pm  ($12/$15)
Tucson Botanical Gardens
2150 N. Alvernon Rd.

Come early to enjoy the gardens, learn about Tucson food organizations,  and sample tasty food. Performance begins at 7:00 pm.  Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Available at Antigone Books,  411 N. 4th Ave. or online at www.newarticulations.org.

Information: 405-4138 or 882-6092
***
About the project:

We Are What We Eat is a collaboration between NEW ARTiculations and the Community Food Security Center of the Community Food Bank. The project uses modern dance and community stories to reveal how food connects us to each other, our environment, and our everyday lives. Through interactive workshops in dance, writing, and discussion, the project has engaged over 100 community participants in a “moving dialogue” about food issues. Participants have included City High School students, Pistor Middle School students, Pima Community College Family Literacy classes, and the public-at-large. Performance material comes directly from community contributions. A dozen community participants will perform with the company.

The project is one in a series of Community Food Bank endeavors utilizing the arts to educate people about their responsibilities as consumers and eaters dependent on a food system. Future projects will include digital storytelling, large-scale public art, literary arts, photography, and music.

We Are What We Eat is supported by the Tucson Pima Arts Council, Punch Woods Endowment Fund, Community Food Bank, NEW ARTiculations, DanceLoft, and many generous individuals.

The Kind Faith Education Foundation’s “Child & Family Expo” on Saturday, April 26, 2008 will benefit the Marana Community Food Bank.  The Expo will be held at Ora Mae Harn Park (13250 N. Lon Adams Road) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Area businesses will be on hand to showcase their products and services, some with hands-on demonstrations.  There will be giant slides, face painting, train rides, carnival games and a lot more for the kids. Hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, sno-cones and sodas will be available for refreshments.

Admission is free to the public and all ages are welcome.  Food and game tickets are five for $1.00 and unlimited rides bracelets are $10.00 each.

Donate two canned food items at the Expo and receive $1.00 off the price of an unlimited ride bracelet.  Donate one food item and receive a free popcorn or soda.  All non-perishable food items will be donated to the Marana Community Food Bank.  The goal is to collect 3,000 pounds of canned goods to benefit the Food Bank.

For information, contact Vicky Tantlinger at (520) 982-9019 or Cecelia Munoz at (520) 682-3001.

The University of Arizona’s 2008 Spring Fling will again benefit the Community Food Bank.  The partnership with Spring Fling is part of the campus wide UA4 Food drive that brings together faculty, staff, students and area merchants to raise money and food for the Community Food Bank.  Spring Fling takes place at Rillito Downs (North 1st and River Road) April 10 through April 13, 2008.

The UA Spring Fling is the largest student run carnival in the nation.  It raises money for student clubs, organizations, events, and service work, but also benefits the Tucson community.  This year, Spring Fling will aid the Community Food Bank’s Child Hunger and Nutrition Programs.  They are “Kids Club”, “Snak Paks for Kids”® and “Summer Meals.”  All of the programs are designed to prevent childhood hunger and help children succeed in school.

Attendees at this year’s Spring Fling on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2008, can combine fun and philanthropy.  A donation of canned food and a jar of peanut butter will reduce their Spring Fling wrist band purchase by $5.   

“The partnership between Spring Fling and the Community Food Bank has been a great success for both organizations in the past,” said Alex Manuel, Spring Fling Executive Director. “We hope to have even greater success for this year’s event and increase donations from the $5 discount on wristbands.”

For further information, contact Alex Manuel at 621-5610.