Hello friends of Reverie,

Our next event is coming right up on March 6th (2 1/2 weeks away!). This benefit for the Tucson Community Food Bank will be hosted again by Gil and Kathy Parrish.  Those who attended the September 18th concert at their home can attest to the beauty of the surroundings, the quality of the food, and the graciousness of these wonderful hosts…. and come on…. its for the Food Bank!    If you can join us that night, please don’t delay.

The concert will be indoors so space is limited. Reserve your place now. Don’t miss out!

Please open/print the RSVP attachment to make your reservation.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Steve and Vivian Bennett and all those who joined us on Valentine’s Day for the Art-If-Act Dance Company benefit at the Bennett’s home. The “Romancing Eros” fundraiser was a wonderful success. Your contributions help to advance the creative spirit of their vision.  We had a great time and were blessed with perfect weather, delicious food catered by the Dakota Cafe, and great company!  Ashley and Claire (co-directors of Artifact Dance Company) are truly inspirational and we are having a great time collaborating with them for the upcoming “Dance In The Red” concert to benefit the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation on March 26th and 27th. Tickets on sale now

Map link to the Parrish’s home for the March 6th Concert

We would like to extend a special thanks for the valued contributions of
The Hair and Skin Studio, Roy and Yolanda Valenzuela

The University of Arizona National Collegiate Leadership Conference (NCLC) will take time from their activities on Saturday, February 20, 2010 to help repack approximately 30,000 pounds of rice for the Community Food Bank.

The National Collegiate Leadership Conference runs from February 19 – 21, 2010 at the University of Arizona. 600 participants are expected to join this conference-wide service project. All participants are encouraged to participate in one large-scale event together. The repacking will take place on Saturday, February 20th in the four side ballrooms at the Student Union Memorial Center at the U of A (2nd and Mountain Avenue) from 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM. The rice will come in fifty pound bags and be repacked by the participants into one pound bags. The smaller bags will then become part of the food bank’s TEFAP Food Box Program and be distributed to local families.

The National Collegiate Leaderships Conference is a student run nonprofit organization that brings together students and leaders from diverse backgrounds to learn leadership skills, cultivate social responsibility, break down leadership barriers and to adopt leadership as a way of life.

“This volunteer project will provide rice to 30,000 local families in need,” said Bill Carnegie, Community Food Bank President/CEO. “We are grateful the NCLC Conference representatives at the University of Arizona chose the Community Food Bank for this important project.”

For more information, contact Alyssa Martinez at (480) 773-9496 or at alyssa.martinez@gmail.com or log on to http://arizonaleadership.orgsync.com/org/nclc

The Tucson Community Food Bank is offering to pick surplus citrus from homes and businesses in the Tucson area. This service is known as “Gleaning” or harvesting food that would otherwise go unused.

“It’s an easy way for someone to help their neighbors in need during these difficult economic times,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO of the Community Food Bank. “There are thousands of orange, lemon, and grapefruit trees in the Tucson area with citrus products that go to waste each year. These items can go a long way to help feed the hungry in our community.”

To schedule someone to come to a home or business and pick the citrus, call (520) 622-0525 x 222. Those able to do their own gleaning may bring the citrus to the food bank at 3003 S. Country Club Road (between 36th Street and Ajo Road), Monday –Friday, from 8:00 AM-
4:30 PM.

Who: Everyone welcome!

What: Tours of a 10-acre production and education farm

When: Monday, February 22, 2010
Farm Stand Hours: 3:00 to 6:00 PM
Farm Tours: 3:00 to 5:00 PM

Where: Community Food Bank’s Marana Heritage Farm at
12375 N. Heritage Park Drive (Tangerine Exit off I-10)

Admission: Free and open to the public

The Marana Heritage Farm Stand’s tours will cover the 10 acres of food producing fields, an “edible forest,” a passive water catchment system, composting, a chicken coop, a cob oven, and the Children’s Garden. Community members will learn about the local food system by seeing the connection between the Marana Heritage Farm and the fresh fruits and vegetables they can purchase at the Farm Stand.

The Marana Heritage Farm is a partnership between the Community Food Bank, the Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department and many community members. Produce grown at the Marana Heritage Farm is sold at the Marana Farm Stand, the Community Food Bank Farmers’ Market, and the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market.

Local produce selections at the Farm Stand include citrus, salad and cooking greens, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, cabbage, potatoes, green onions, apples, fresh eggs and much more.

All the Markets including the Farm Stand accept credit and debit cards, SNAP (food stamps), cash, and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Cash Value Vouchers for fruits and vegetables.

For more information, contact Sara Rickard at (520) 622-0525 x 242.

On January 27, 2010, members of the Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers presented a donation totaling $600 to the Community Food Bank

From left to right are Cathy Greer, Treasurer, Linda Hampton, CFB Special Events Coordinator and Steve Gallego, President.

The Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers have been long time supporters of the Community Food Bank.

Where:  NE corner of Speedway and Riverview, west of I-10 between Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind and El Rio Neighborhood Center

Admission:  Free and open to the public

The Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market Celebration of Citrus will teach and encourage community members to eat and grow their own citrus, one of Southern Arizona’s most nutritious agricultural specialties.  The Celebration will feature cooking demonstrations of recipes using citrus, citrus trees for sale, tips from local gardeners on how to care for your own citrus trees, a kids’ booth featuring games and prizes, and live music.

Local produce selections at the Farmers’ Market include citrus, salad and cooking greens, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, cabbage, potatoes, green onions, apples and much more.  Shoppers can also find Sonoran honey, dried beans, free-range beef, fresh eggs, herbal remedies, locally roasted coffee, baked goods, garden plants and cacti.

The Farmers’ Market accepts credit and debit cards, SNAP (food stamps), cash, and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Cash Value Vouchers for fruits and vegetables.

For more information, contact Sara Rickard at (520) 622-0525 x 242.

According to the new findings reported in the Hunger in America 2010 survey released February 2nd, 37 million people, one in eight Americans, is receiving emergency food assistance through the Feeding America network of food banks. This is an increase of 46% over the findings reported four years ago the in Hunger in America 2006 survey.

Hunger in America 2010 is the first comprehensive research study that captures the connection between a weak economy and increased demands for emergency food assistance.  The data for this study was captured in the heart of the 2009 economic downturn (February-June 2009).

The study reveals an even more startling picture in Southern Arizona.  The Community Food Bank survey in 2006 indicated that 98,200 unduplicated individuals were served annually but, in the 2010 survey individuals served jumped to 178,200, an 81% increase.

Unduplicated individuals served with emergency food on a weekly basis in the 2006 survey showed 18,000 people were helped.  In the 2010 survey that weekly number jumped to 33,100 people, an 84% increase.

“While these numbers sound staggering, we have been able to keep up with the rise in demand due to the generosity of the people in our community,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO.  “We greatly appreciate that support.”

For more information on the Hunger in America 2010 survey, contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215.