Green Valley and Sahuarita residents responded generously leaving boxes and bags of non-perishable food items at their mailboxes on Saturday to help in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

This year’s goal was 30,000 pounds of non-perishables and $30,000 in cash or checks.  As of Friday, May 30, we have collected $32,625 and 30,014 pounds of food.

“We are grateful to the entire community, our volunteers and of course the Green Valley letter carriers and the Sahuarita Rural Carriers for making this year’s food drive a huge success,” Branch Manager, Mary Jane Goodrick said, adding that since they are seeing a 60 percent increase of families in need over last year the results of this food drive will make a difference in helping meet local needs.

In another recent campaign where The Feinstein Foundation challenged food banks nationwide to raise funds and food donations between March 1 and April 30 the Community Food Bank received $68,048.29 in cash and checks and $126,968 in food items for a total of $195,016.29.  This was through the generosity of 1,491 donors. 

The value of food items is based on $1.00 per item per pound. 

The Community Food Bank has participated in the Feinstein Foundation challenge annually since 2001. Goodrick called the results very worthwhile and said, “The community embraces the challenge annually.”