KVOA-TV News 4 Tucson is partnering with Fry’s Food Stores and the Tucson Firefighters in February for a “100 Ton Tuesdays” food drive to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

Wednesday, February 1^st and each Tuesday during February from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, there will be a day-long food drive at specific Fry’s Food Store locations (dates and locations below). Tucson Firefighters and Food Bank staff will be on hand to help with collections.  News 4 Tucson will broadcast promos throughout each Tuesday encouraging the public to visit specific locations and donate.  KVOA-TV will also be at each location with “live” inserts to encourage donations from 3:00 to 6:30 PM.

Food donations may be made at any Fry’s Food Store during the entire month of February.

Dates and Locations for “100 Ton Tuesdays”

February 1st (Kick-off event) Fry’s Food Store #138 at 4036 N. 1^st Ave. (1^st & Roger).

February 7^th Fry’s Food Store #19 at 3920 E. Grant Road (Grant & Alvernon).

February 14^th Fry’s Food Store #131 at 2480 N. Swan Road (Grant & Swan).

February 21^st Fry’s Food Store #119 at 902 W. Irvington (I-19 & Irvington).

February 28^th Fry’s Food Store #58 at 2001 E. Irvington (Irvington & Campbell).

Members of the “HiFalutin Red Hatters” will present Pauline Hechler, Chief Development Officer of the Community Food Bank with a check that represents the net proceeds from their sold out performance at the Gaslight Theatre on Sunday, January 22, 2012. Doors open at 2:15 PM and the performance begins at 3:00 PM and is entitled “The Two Amigos.”

Although the performance is sold out, the “HiFalutin Red Hatters” invite the public to drop off donations of non-perishable food items before the production at 3:00 PM. A Community Food Bank truck will be in the parking lot of the Gaslight Theatre, starting at 2:00 PM to receive donations. Most needed food items are canned meats, canned vegetables, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and canned tomato products.

For more information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 882-3287.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s  Mardi Gras 2012 is set for Saturday, January 28^th at the Historic Manning House, 450 W. Paseo Redondo in downtown Tucson.  This year’s event is presented by Cox Communications.

Mardi Gras 2012 begins at 7:00 PM and will be presided over by “King and Queen of Carnivale” Ron and Nancy Barber.  The evening will feature New Orleans–style food, live entertainment by Batucaxe, Zo Carroll and the Soul Breakers, 80’s and Gentlemen and Flam Chen!  All proceeds will go to the Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Programs.

Tickets are $100 per person and are available at www.communityfoodbank.org or by calling (520) 622-0525 x 492.

“This year’s Mardi Gras is sure to impress,” said Stephanie Porter, Event Chair.  “Look for beautifully hand-crafted masks created by local artists in Tucson Originals Restaurants throughout January.  Masks will be raffled the night of the Mardi Gras 2012 event.”

The Royalty Sponsor for Mardi Gras 2012 is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona; the Jackson Square sponsors are Citi and the University of Phoenix; Krewe sponsors are Northern Trust and Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P.   Media Sponsors include Comcast Cox Communications, Comcast Cable, KMSB-TV, 93.7 KRQ Radio and Tucson Lifestyle Magazine.

For more information on the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s Mardi Gras 2012, contact Pauline Hechler at (520) 882-3308 or Kris French at (520) 882-3321.

2405 S. Cottonwood Lane
Saturday, January 21st

1 – 4 p.m.
Enjoy food and music with your friends.

Printable Flyer

Las Milpitas de Cottonwood

More information available:
HealthyPima.org • bbernini@communityfoodbank.org • (520) 882-3273

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is a MyPlate Community Partner and as such would like to repeat this message from ChooseMyPlate.gov:

choosemyplate.gov/SuperTracker

As we enter the New Year, Americans are looking for ways to meet their New Year’s Resolutions. Topping many lists are healthy eating, being active, and managing weight. Introducing SuperTracker…

The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) has developed a new online diet and physical activity planning, assessment, and analysis tool.  SuperTracker is designed to help Americans implement the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.  With this tool, users can do everything from a quick food look up to in-depth diet and activity tracking and analysis over time and weight management.

Make 2012 your healthiest year yet.  Share with us on Twitter (hashtag #SuperTracker) how SuperTracker is helping you make great choices for a great year!

Watch the video announcing the tool:  USDA Launches New Online Tool–SuperTracker

Read the press release: USDA Launches New Online Nutrition SuperTracker in Time for Those Healthy New Year Resolutions

Check out the SuperTracker Backgrounder

Note:  SuperTracker will overlap with the existing tools (Tracker, Food Planner) for a period of time to allow users to make the switch.  Users are encouraged to move to SuperTracker since the previous tools will be phased out.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona ( 3003 S. Country Club Road) will hold an open house at the Gabrielle Giffords Family Assistance Center on Friday, January 6, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.  The public is invited to tour the Center and learn from staff members about the work they are doing to help families in our community.

“This center is a positive outcome of the January 8^th Tucson tragedy,” said Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO.  “Future contributions to the Gabrielle Giffords Hunger Fund will be used to expand the Center’s reach into other communities.”

A photo panorama will be on display that details Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords long time involvement with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

Funding for the Giffords Family Assistance Center came from a special fund that Gabby’s husband Mark Kelly publically suggested after the January 8, 2011 tragedy in Tucson.  He suggested that those who wanted to honor Gabby make a gift to the Community Food Bank or the Red Cross, two of her favorite charities.  As a result over $215,000 in gifts to the Food Bank have come from 48 states and several foreign countries to build the Gabrielle Giffords Family Assistance Center.  Donations to the fund may continue to be made online by clicking here.

For more information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 882-3287 or Cell at (520) 444-5412.

Get your mask on, Tucson!

Celebrate Mardi Gras 2012 with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
and King & Queen of Carnivale Ron & Nancy Barber.

Saturday, January 28, 7:00 p.m.
The Manning House
$100 Per Person
Sponsorships & reserved tables available.

Tarot card readers, live entertainment by Zo Carroll and the Soul Breakers, Batucaxe, Flam Chen, and 80s and Gentleman. Enjoy a New Orleans style dinner and desert, cocktails, dancing, photo booth and mask raffle.

Tickets are no longer available online. They may still be purchased at the door.

Masks created by local artists

There will be over 30 handmade masks displays at local Tucson restaurants leading up to the event. The masks will be raffled at Mardi Gras with proceeds benefiting the food bank.

Tucson Originals Restaurants that are displaying the masks:

• Delectables Restaurant & Catering
• Bushi Traditional Japanese & Asian Cuisine
• Jonathan’s Cork
• Renee’s Organic Oven
• Vero Amore
• Noble Hops Gastropub
• Venice Restaurant & Pizzeria
• Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks & Hoagies
• Pastiche Modern Eatery
• Mr. An’s Sushi

Presenting Sponsor

Carnivale Sponsor

Royalty Sponsor

Jackson Square Sponsors

Krewe Sponsors

Revelers

Diane Frisch, Keegan, Linscott & Kenon, Williams Foundation, Palm Court Inn, Stephanie Porter, Quality Restoration, ResCare, Retro Trek, Doug Taren

Media Sponsors

Mardi Gras 2012 committee masking up for the most fantastic event of the year! L to R: Tara Bruce, Kristin Salerno, Stephanie Porter, Jessica Castillo and Whitney Misenhimer

View slideshow from Mardi Gras 2011

Nov. 4, 2011- Jan. 9th, 2012

Bank of America has partnered with Feeding America to help fight hunger this holiday season. And they’re fighting hard by tripling your donation. For every $1 you give, Bank of America will give $2.* So if you give $15, they’ll make it $45. If you give $50, they’ll make it $150. Any amount you can give will truly help families in need.

Give a meal and make a difference in the fight against hunger this holiday season.

Bank of America is the signature sponsor of Give a Meal.

Bank of America is offering a double match. For every $1 donated through www.bankofamerica.com/give (active 11/14/11) or Bank of America’s text-to-give campaign, Bank of America will give $2 (up to a total match of $500,000).

Example of double match:

$10  Donation made by participant; in this example we will say the participants chooses for funds to go to the local food bank.
$20  Bank of America matches that donation with two times the donation amount
$30  Total donation to the local food bank

Donors who donate via www.bankofamerica.com/give (active 11/14/11) will have the option of donating to Feeding America or their local food bank (determined by zip code). Bank of America’s match will follow the donor’s intent (i.e. if the donor chooses to donate to their local food bank, the match will go to the local food bank.) Food banks are encouraged to promote the campaign to your constituents to take advantage of the double match. Funds donated via text will go to the national office as it is not possible to determine the location of the donor.

Bank of America is investing significant resources in promoting the campaign. They will be promoting it in banking centers, on ATM screens and receipts, in banking statements, on their homepage, via social media, and in theaters in select markets. They will also be holding PR/volunteer events in select markets. They are also planning to promote it during football games in select markets.

The bank is also donating an additional $500,000 to Feeding America for the campaign, as well as $500,000 for SNAP Outreach.

Questions? Contact Sharon Hurwitz at shurwitz@feedingamerica.org or 312-641-6750.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona will join the Association of Arizona Food Banks in promoting the “Ending Hunger One Plate at a Time” campaign.  Hunger Relief license plates can be ordered directly from www.ServiceArizona.com or by visiting any MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

Annually, the Hunger Relief license plate costs $25 plus postage and handling.  Of the $25, $17 benefits food banks throughout Arizona.  Note: Specialty license plate fees are not pro-rated, therefore your new Hunger Relief license plate will renew on your next scheduled vehicle registration renewal date.  You may personalize your Hunger Relief license plate.  The cost of the personalized Hunger Relief license plate is $50, plus postage and handling.  Get your Hunger Relief license plate today by visiting www.ServiceArizona.com or order your plate at any MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

Established in 1984, the Association of Arizona Food Banks (AAFB) is a private, non-profit organization serving five regional food bank members and a network of nearly 1,700 food pantries and agencies.