Barry and Janet Lang and Jim and Sandy Peebles will each make a gift of $30,000 to  launch the “Lang/Peebles $60,000 Fill the Shelves Challenge” to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  The community is asked to meet the challenge by going online and making a donation.  If someone does not have access to the internet, they may call (520) 622-0525 and ask to donate to the challenge.

The Langs and Peebles are challenging the community to match their gifts now through December 31, 2011 to help replenish food supplies that have been depleted by increased demands and decreased government food during these difficult economic times.  For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can distribute $9.50 worth of food; therefore, with the match, the Food Bank will be able to distribute over $1 million worth of food!

One in four children in Pima County is at risk of hunger.  According to the Langs and Peebles, “One of our goals is that no child goes hungry this holiday season, and we sincerely challenge the community to help us meet this goal.”

For more information on the “Lang/Peebles $60,000 Fill the Shelves Challenge” contact Pauline Hechler at (520) 882-3308.

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.

Derrick Harris from Caterpillar, Arturo Lopez, Chair of the Amado Community Food Bank Advisory Board and Mildred Lopez Feliciano, Amado Community Food Bank Executive Director.

Mildred Lopez Feliciano, Executive Director of the Amado Community Food Bank and Mary Jane Goodrick, Executive Director of the Green Valley-Sahuarita Community Food Bank have announced that a $7,000 grant from the Caterpillar Foundation will be shared by both food banks.

The $5,000 Amado Food Bank portion of the grant will be used to buy shelving for food storage.  The $2,000 Green Valley-Sahuarita Food Bank portion will be used to offset operating expenses.

The grant was presented at the Amado Food Bank Advisory Board meeting on November 1, 2011.

Pictured from left to right in the attached photo are Derrick Harris from Caterpillar, Arturo Lopez, Chair of the Amado Community Food Bank Advisory Board and Mildred Lopez Feliciano, Amado Community Food Bank Executive Director.

For more information on this grant, contact Mildred Lopez Feliciano at (520) 398-2479 or Mary Jane Goodrick at (520) 625-5252.

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.

The Amado Community Food Bank will accept frozen turkey donations from October 13, 2011 through December 31, 2011.  The turkeys will be used to help fill the holiday food boxes.  Without these donations families may go without a main dish this holiday season.

The Amado Food Bank would appreciate donations of 10 to 12 pound frozen turkeys to benefit families in the Amado, Tubac, Arivaca, Elephant Head, Tumacacori, Rio Rico and Lakewood areas.

Turkey donations 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.

Turkey donations will gladly be picked up by calling (520) 398-2479 or (520) 398-2942.  Monetary donations will also be accepted to make turkey purchases.  Please specify that the donation is for the turkey drive.

For more information, contact Mildred Lopez Feliciano at (520) 398-2942

September is Hunger Action Month and the Amado Community Food Bank is asking for donations for their annual turkey drive.  The Food Bank will accept donations from September 1 through September 30, 2011.  The turkeys will be used to help fill the holiday food boxes.  Without these donations families may go without meat this holiday season.

The Amado Food Bank would appreciate donations of 10 to 12 pound frozen turkeys to benefit families in the Amado, Tubac, Arivaca, Elephant Head, Tumacacori, Rio Rico and Lakewood areas.

Turkey donations 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.

Turkey donations will gladly be picked up by calling (520) 398-2479 or (520) 398-2942.  Monetary donations will also be accepted to make turkey

Help the Amado Community Food Bank during Hunger Action Month and donate frozen turkeys for families in need in your community.

For more information, contact Mildred Lopez Feliciano at (520) 398-2942

The E&J Gallo Winery – Taste of the NFL and local Southern Arizona restaurants are teaming up to benefit the Community Food Bank now through December 31, 2010.

The Taste of the NFL is a non-profit organization whose goal is to address the needs of the hungry and homeless by raising money and heightening awareness through special programs. One in six Americans are struggling with the realty of hunger and food insecurity.

Currently, fifty-one restaurants in Southern Arizona are participating in the Taste of the NFL.  See restaurants below. When you go to one of these restaurants, order one of these E&J Gallo wines: William Hill, Louis M. Martini, Ecco Domani, Alamos, Mirassou or MacMurray and a portion of the proceeds from wine sales will be donated to the Community Food Bank to help feed hungry families.

This is the 14^th consecutive year the E&J Gallo Winery will make a significant donation to the Taste of the NFL in the fight against hunger.

The Community Food Bank serves five counties in Southern Arizona including Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee Counties and last year distributed over 27 million pounds of food.

For more information on the Taste of the NFL, contact Donna Summers at (520) 603-4004.

Taste of the NFL

Participating Restaurants

Anthony’s                                                                     Nana’s Kitchen

Arizona Inn                                                                   Nimbus Brewery

Bamboo Club                                                               North Italian

BJ’s Brewery-Broadway                                              Old Chicago

BJ’s Brewery-Oracle                                                    Old Pueblo Grille

Bob Dobbs                                                                  Oro Valley Country Club

Boston’s Gourmet Pizza                                                Outback-Sierra Vista

Canyon’s Crown Restaurant & Pub                              Pastiche Modern Eatery

Carrabba’s                                                                   PF Chang’s China Bistro

Caruso’s                                                                      Ric’s Café

Chili’s – All locations                                                    Ritz Carlton Golf Club

Claim Jumper                                                               Ritz Carlton Hotel

Coyote Jack’s – Nogales                                              Sakura Teppan

Doubletree Hotel                                                          Samurai Teppan-Nogales

Firebird’s Rocky Mountain Grill                                    San Carlos Grill

Gracies Station-Benson                                                Sheraton-Grant

Grill on the Green                                                         Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Hilton Garden Inn                                                         The Loop

Jimmy’s American Bistro                                              The Melting Pot

Mama Louisa’s                                                             Trident

Metropolitan Grill                                                         Tucson Country Club

Mr. An’s Teppan Steak and Seafood                            Tucson Hilton East

Tucson National Omni

Windemere Hotel-Sierra Vista