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.

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.

Pauline Hechler, Vice President in charge of Development at the Community Food Bank, speaks to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson. In addition to addressing hunger issues in Tucson, she shares the Food Bank’s philosophy on assisting people toward independence.

© Pauline Hechler

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Lose Weight and Feed your Community!

For every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America®—enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank. $800,000 maximum donation.

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Do not participate if you’re pregnant or if weight loss is not appropriate for you. Always contact your doctor before starting any weight loss program. Even if some weight loss is appropriate for you, please do not engage in excessive weight loss.

The maximum number of pounds that can be pledged and ultimately counted toward the Pound For Pound Challenge donation is capped at fifty pounds per person.

Again, make sure your doctor agrees with your weight loss plan. Pledges accepted through June 30, 2010.