Action Alert: Post a Public Comment on the House Agriculture Committee Website!

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is partnering with Feeding America in support of the Farm Bill and we need your help:

Help us generate 20,000 comments in support of strengthening and protecting hunger-relief programs!

On April 26, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Farm Bill out of committee.  The House must do the same.  Right now, members of the House Agriculture Committee are working on developing their version of the Farm Bill and seeking public comments to inform their decisions.  In April, that same committee approved a proposal to cut SNAP by $36 billion as part of the budget reconciliation process.  The full House is expected to vote on this measure later this week.  While the budget reconciliation votes are non-binding, they show how serious the threats to hunger-relief programs like SNAP and TEFAP really are, particularly in the House.

As a result, we need to send a strong message about the importance of protecting and strengthening these programs by generating comments from anti-hunger advocates throughout the country.  If every food bank can mobilize 100 people to make a comment on the House Agriculture Committee’s website, we can generate more than 20,000 public comments and show real grassroots support for hunger-relief programs.  Urge your volunteers, donors, partners, board members, social media followers, and other community supporters to post a comment and help us show Congress that Americans want their elected officials to stand up against hunger in America!

For more information please see the Farm Bill’s Website.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Go to the House Agriculture Committee Website

2. Post a comment:  You can post your own comment or use our sample.  The more local and personal your comment is, the more impact it will have.

I am a supporter of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  Right now, many families in our community are struggling.  With increased demand for emergency food assistance, high food and gas prices, and declines in TEFAP commodities—a major source of the food we distribute—our food bank is having difficulty meeting the needs of our community.  We need a strong Farm Bill to make sure that struggling families can put food on the table.  I ask that you pass a Farm Bill that protects and strengthens programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and CSFP.  Our community cannot afford cuts to these programs.

3. Spread the word:  Help us reach our goal of 20,000 comments by sharing this call to action.  If every food bank successfully mobilizes 100 people, we can generate 20,000 comments!

If you have questions, please contact Brett Weisel at bweisel@feedingamerica.org.



“Stamp Out Hunger” Letter Carrier’s Food Drive

20TH Annual National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive to Benefit the Community Food Bank

For the 20th consecutive year the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona will team up to collect donations on Saturday, May 12, 2012 for the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive

“This is the 20th Anniversary of the Letter Carriers Food Drive,” said Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO.  “The problem of hunger in our community has never been greater and we need our community to help make this year’s food drive a success.  Thousands of local families are counting on your support,” he added.

To help “Stamp Out Hunger” in Southern Arizona, residents are asked leave a bag of non-perishable food, such as canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit or canned tomato products next to their mail box before the time of their mail delivery on Saturday, May 12th.   Food should be in non-breakable containers.  Letter carriers and volunteers will collect the food donations and forward them to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

Monetary donations will be accepted for the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive and on-line donations may be made as well:

For further information, contact the NALC Branch #704 at (520) 323-2117 or Jack Parris at (520) 882-3287.

 

 

 



Peanut Butter Shortage

The Community Food Bank purchases peanut butter, every five weeks, but due to the recent droughts and tornadoes in the South, the price of these jars has just increased 80% from $40,000 to $72,000.

We serve 24,000 jars of Peanut Butter every month in our Emergency Food Boxes. The cost has just risen from 99 cents to $1.53 per jar. Donate today!

Call (520) 882-3288 to host a food drive.

 



Feinstein Challenge to Match Gifts to from March 1 to April 30

Donations of cash and food made between March 1 and April 30, 2012 to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona are eligible for the Feinstein Challenge.  During this nationwide challenge, the Rhode Island-based Feinstein Foundation will provide a partial match for every dollar raised or pound of food donated.

For the 15th consecutive year, $1 million will be divided among hunger-fighting agencies nationwide, including the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

The Feinstein Foundation was founded by Alan Shawn Feinstein and is dedicated to the alleviation of hunger, the importance of community service in education and the values of caring, compassion and brotherhood.

“This is a great opportunity for local businesses, schools, churches and the entire community to come together and have their contributions of food or dollars matched by the Feinstein Challenge to benefit local families in need,” said Bill Carnegie, Food Bank President/CEO.

To make donations eligible for the Feinstein Challenge, they must be received by the Community Food Bank between March 1 and April 30, 2012.  Donations may be made online  or by calling (520) 622-0525.

For further information about the Feinstein Challenge, contact Jack Parris at (520) 882-3287.



“Good Vibrations and Food Donations” a Sixties Dance to Benefit the Marana Community Food Bank

The Marana Community Food Bank is presenting an evening of reminiscing and fun on Saturday April 14, 2012
at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse in Dove Mountain.

photo booth           silent auction          cash bar           raffle prizes

Good Vibrations – Food Donations is a return to the 60s dance featuring the Sixties Garage Band and dinner prepared by award winning Chef Michael Veres. Last year’s event was a complete sell out and we expect nothing less this year.

Your participation will ensure that the Marana Community Food Bank can continue its work in meeting the food needs of the hungry in Marana, Picture Rocks, Avra Valley and northwest Tucson.

View Printable Flyer

View Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information and tickets 682-3001

Diamond Sponsor

Emerald Sponsor
Edward Jones – Maeve Johnson

Sapphire Sponsors
Comcast Cable
Kurt Larsen Insurance Agency – Sate Farm
Mata Ortiz to You – Janis Diers
Mesquite Pediatrics
National Bank of Arizona
Dr. Zachary Shnek



Give a Meal. Triple the Difference. Bank of America Triples your Gifts through Feeding America

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.



Amado and Green Valley-Sahuarita Food Banks to Share Grant from Caterpillar Foundation

 

Presenting check

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.



Hunger Relief License Plates to Benefit Arizona Food Banks Now Available

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.

 

 



Shred-a-Thon to Benefit Green Valley-Sahuarita Community Food Bank

The G.V. Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers in partnership with Shred-it
Presents …
A SPRING SHRED-A- THON EVENT TO BENEFIT GREEN VALLEY-SAHUARITA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

DOCUMENT SHREDDING AT:
ST. FRANCIS-IN-THEVALLEYEPISCOPALCHURCH
600 S. La Canada Dr.
(In the rear Parking lot off Alegria)

Saturday, April 30, 2011
9:00 a.m. -12:00 noon

Please bring non-perishable food or a cash donation

Don’t be a victim of IDENTITY THEFT. Bring personal documents to be shredded on site! Please limit amount to 2 (two) file size boxes!
For more information contact Green Valley SAVat 351-6744

Made possible by a grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation

View Flyer



Community Food Bank Cancels Citrus Gleaning for 2011

The Community Food in Tucson has cancelled the gleaning of citrus fruit for 2011 due to damage from recent cold weather.   The cancellation is also in effect for the Green Valley-Sahuarita Community Food Bank in Green Valley, Arizona and the Marana Community Food Bank in Marana, Arizona.

“The recent Southern Arizona area record freeze has destroyed the citrus crops available for this year’s gleaning project,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO. “We are sorry for this development, but much of the fruit left on the trees is not edible.”

Homeowners who pick their own citrus and verify that it is good may call the Community Food Bank and arrange for pickup.

For additional information, contact Jacob Coldsmith at (520) 622-0525 x 260.