Amado Community Food Bank will accept donations of frozen turkeys October 8 through December 31, 2009.  The turkeys will be used to help fill the holiday food boxes.  Without these donations, clients will not have any meat in their holiday food boxes.

The Amado Community Food Bank has set a goal of 200 eight to ten pound frozen turkeys to benefit clients in the Amado, Tubac, Arivaca, Elephant Head, Tumacacori, Rio Rico and Lakewood areas.

Donated turkeys may be dropped off at the Amado Community Food Bank at 28720 South Nogales Highway in Amado, Arizona.  Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  On Thursdays the office is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Call the office at (520) 398-2942 to arrange for the Amado Food Bank to pick up a donation.

“We look forward to great participation from our communities again this year to help provide turkeys for our families,” said Mildred Lopez Feliciano, Amado Community Food Bank Executive Director.

For more information on frozen turkey donations to the Amado Community Food Bank, contact Mildred Lopez Feliciano at (520) 398-2942.

Amado, Arizona:  8th District Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will visit the Amado Community Food Bank on Friday, October 2, 2009 to announce $300,000 in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Federal Stimulus Funds to complete construction of the food bank building.  The announcement will take place at 1:00 PM at the Amado Community Food Bank, 87200 S. Old Nogales Highway, Amado, Arizona 85645.

After the presentation, Congresswoman Giffords will tour the Amado Food Bank.

Ten years ago the Amado Food Bank was located in a small corrugated tin shack with a dirt floor behind the Cow Palace Restaurant.

Grants and donations were collected and land was purchased for Phase One in May 2002.  This phase consisted of a 2,500 square foot reception area, manager’s office and warehouse space complete with a walk-in cooler.  Fund raising began almost immediately for the additional needs including more space, a garage for delivery vehicles and a water storage tank to help meet fire codes.

It became obvious that if the funds were not spent as they came in, the project might never be completed due to increased construction costs. The decision was made to use the money on hand to build a shell and continue to raise funds to provide mechanical needs, interior construction and equipment.

This construction has been a work in progress that will conclude with this $300.000 Federal Stimulus money.  The project has been a true partnership among local, state, and federal government.  Local and corporate businesses and foundations have also been instrumental in the success of this project. Without the cooperation of all these entities, the completion of the Amado Community Food Bank could not have been accomplished.

For more information, contact Tony Bruno at (520) 622-0525 x 245 or cell at (602) 295-6910.

The Community Food Bank desperately needs volunteers at area post offices to collect food donations from the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Food Drive on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Last year the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive collected over 334,000 pounds of food in one day.  This is the Community Food Bank’s largest of the year.

The main shift when help is needed is 2:00 PM to 6 PM, however there are some morning slots available. People may volunteer at a post office near their homes.

The following post offices need volunteers:

• Oro Valley (1190 N. LaCanada), 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 8 people, 2:00 to 5:00 PM -10  people.

• Mt. View Annex (7959 N. Thornydale), 12 to 2:30 PM, 6 people, 2:30 to 5:30 PM-30 people.

• San Xavier (4700 W. Valencia), 1:00 to 5:00 PM – 8 people.

• Mission (314 W. Valencia), 12:30 to 5:00 PM -15 people.

• Rincon (1099 S. Pantano), 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM – 10 people, 2:00 to 6:00 PM – 30 people.

Also needed are people willing to drive their own trucks to collect food that carriers cannot cover.

Volunteers transfer food from Letter Carriers’ trucks into semi-trailers.  There will be a Community Food Bank staff member at each location to serve as a “Team Captain.”  Groups and individuals are welcome

To volunteer, call the Community Food Bank Volunteer Manager at (520) 622-0525 x 204.

The fifteen area Curves locations will participate in the 11th Annual Food Drive to benefit the Community Food Bank, the Green Valley Community Food Bank and the Marana Community Food Bank between March 9th and March 28th.

Curves will be giving back to the community by waiving its normal service fee for any new member who joins between March 9th and March 28th.  To qualify, simply bring a bag of non-perishable food or provide a monetary donation of $30 to any Curves location.  The food drive will help women manage their weight and their wallets by joining Curves for free, while helping to feed the hungry in Southern Arizona.

“The Curves Food Drive is always exciting,” said Megg Giufurta, owner of 3 Curves locations in Tucson and Vail, Arizona.  “We have a chance to help so many people during these uncertain economic times.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone and we’re proud to participate.”

Others from the community who wish to donate are also encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at any Curves location Monday through Friday during business hours through the month of March.

The fifteen Curves locations are at:

101 S. LaCanada Drive, #67
Green Valley, AZ  85614

15615 N. Oracle Drive, #115
Catalina, AZ 85739

4145 W. Ina Road, Suite 151
Marana, AZ 85741

8250 N. Cortaro Farms Road, #140
Marana, AZ 85743

10355 N. La Canada Drive #157
Oro Valley, AZ 85737

6860 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85750

2040 W. Orange Grove Road, #122
Tucson, AZ 85704

2816 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719

5671 E. Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85712

9136 E. Valencia Road, #130
Tucson, AZ 85747

6970 E. 22nd Street, #106
Tucson, AZ 85710

9155 E. Tanque Verde Road, #127
Tucson, AZ 85749

150 S. Houghton, Suite 140
Tucson, AZ 85748

5975 N. Western Way, #117
Tucson, AZ 85713

13190 E. Colossal Cave Road, #130
Vail, AZ 85641

For more information on the Curves 11th Annual Food Drive, contact Megg Giufurta at (520 762-0225 or Cell at (520) 603-3373

Amado Community Food Bank will accept donations of frozen turkeys from October 1 through December 31, 2008.  The turkeys will be used to help fill the holiday food boxes.  Without these donations of turkeys, clients will not have meat in their holiday food boxes. 

The Amado Community Food Bank has set a goal of 400 medium size frozen turkeys to benefit clients in the Amado, Tubac, Arivaca, Elephant Head, Tumacacori, Rio Rico and Lakewood areas.

Donated turkeys may be dropped off at the Amado Community Food Bank at 28720 South Nogales Highway in Amado, Arizona or call the office at (520) 398-2942 to arrange a pick up.  Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  On Thursdays the office is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

For more information on frozen turkey donations to the Amado Community Food Bank, contact Mildred Lopez Feliciano at (520) 398-2942.