Who:  Everyone welcome!

What:  Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market Fall Garden Fest

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 Fall Garden Fest will help community members get their cool weather gardens started.  The Market will feature the annual fall seed exchange; garden supplies such as seedlings, bird netting and floating row cover will be for sale; and information on seed saving and other tips for desert gardeners will be available.

Late September in Southern Arizona is the perfect time to start planting cool weather crops including lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and radishes, and many others.

Local produce selections at the Farmers’ Market include a late season harvest of hot-weather crops, including summer and winter squash, okra, eggplants, onions, potatoes, garlic, basil, melons, apples and much more.  Shoppers can also find free-range beef, honey, dried beans and grains, eggs, herbal remedies, locally roasted coffee, garden plants and cacti.

The Farmers’ Market accepts credit and debit cards, food stamps, cash, and Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers for WIC participants and income qualifying seniors.

For more information, contact Sara Rickard at (520) 622-0525 x 242.

Tyson Foods, Inc. and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) will join forces on Monday, September 21, 2009 to donate over 30,000 pounds of chicken to the Community Food Bank.  The chicken will be delivered to the food bank, 3003 S. Country Club Road, at 9:00 AM.

On hand to accept the donation and help unload the Tyson Chicken will be Bill Carnegie, President/CEO of the Community Food Bank and Richard Fimbres, LULAC Immediate Past National Vice President for the Elderly and member of LULAC Council 1057.  It was with Mr. Fimbres’s and LULAC’s help that this donation was made possible.

Last year, the Community Food Bank distributed over 22 million pounds of food in Southern Arizona, enough for over 48,000 meals daily.  That is a 38% increase over the previous year.  “The current economic downturn in Southern Arizona has impacted those who least can afford it,” said Bill Carnegie.  “This generous donation from Tyson Foods will help feed thousands of hungry families in Southern Arizona.”

Tyson Foods has donated more than 50 million pounds of product to hunger and disaster relief efforts since 2000.

LULAC is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States.  The group advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

Interviews and photo opportunities will be available at the Community Food Bank on September 21st.

For more information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215.

For more info on the film, please click here

September 24th, at 6:30 and 9:00,

Grand Cinemas Crossroads 6, Grant and Swan

Plese bring a can of organic or non-GMO food to be donated to the Community Food Bank.

Presented by GMO Free Project of Tucson www.gmofreeprojectoftucson.ning.com

For more information contact:  Mascha Miedaner 481-1128

Tucson Restaurants Rally to Raise Funds and Donations for the Community Food Bank

RA Sushi and La Encantada have partnered to present the “2009 Server Olympics,” a friendly competition to raise cash and food donations for Tucson’s own Community Food Bank. Some of Tucson’s most popular restaurants will go for the gold in four “Olympic” events: Tray Race; Corkscrew Challenge; Check Relay; and Table Clearing Competition.

A perfect way to end a day of shopping La Encantada’s summer sidewalk sales, fans can cheer on their favorite restaurant while rocking out to live music performed by Tucson band Blackwood & Co., and tunes spun by D.J. Amerial. With a small donation to enter the “Olympic Village,” guests may enjoy complimentary beer and cocktail samples (21 and older) offered by Alliance Beverage and Golden Eagle, as well as food samples provided by RA Sushi and other participating restaurants.

“Olympians” include servers from an assortment of Tucson restaurants, including Armitage Wine Lounge & Café; Bluepoint; Firebirds; NoRTH; RA Sushi; Tavolino; and more.

COST:       Event sponsors request that spectators support the Community Food Bank by bringing five cans of food, or by donating $5 as an entrance fee.

WHEN:    Sunday, Aug. 30
4 to 7 p.m.: Server Olympics
“Closing Ceremonies” and “Medal Presentation” will be held at RA Sushi following the competition, with food and drink specials offered until 11 p.m.

WHERE:    La Encantada Shopping Center
2905 E. Skyline Drive
(Event takes place in the Valet Circle on the east end of the property.

About Westcor
Founded in 1969, Phoenix-based Westcor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macerich. The largest owner-manager of commercial properties in Arizona, Westcor’s portfolio currently consists of over 17 million square feet of retail space at 31 shopping centers, including 13 super-regional centers and 18 community and specialty centers. The company has set the industry benchmark for ground-up shopping center development, such as Chandler Fashion Center, SanTan Village and Arrowhead Towne Center. Additional information about Westcor is available online at www.westcor.com.

About RA Sushi
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, an upbeat, unconventional sushi bar, opened its first location in Old Town Scottsdale in October 1997. RA is best known for successfully combining distinctive sushi with a trendy, hip atmosphere. Fresh sushi is served to order along with outstanding Japanese-fusion cuisine in a fun, lively environment. The result is a place that is both unpretentious and fashionable. Lunch and dinner are served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the bar is open until 1 a.m. Happy Hour food and beverage specials are offered Monday through Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m.

RA has 25 locations across the country, with several more slated to open.  Enjoy RA Sushi in Arizona (Ahwatukee, Mesa, North Scottsdale, South Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson); California (Chino Hills, Corona, Huntington Beach, San Diego, Torrance and Tustin); Florida (Palm Beach Gardens, Pembroke Pines and South Miami); Georgia (Atlanta); Illinois (Chicago, Glenview and Lombard); Kansas (Leawood); Maryland (Baltimore); Nevada (Las Vegas); and Texas (Houston and Plano).
www.RAsushi.com

Who:  Everyone welcome!

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 Prickly Pear Harvest Market will demonstrate to community members how to harvest, process and cook with one of the desert’s most abundant and nutritious foods!  The Market will feature prickly pear harvesting tips, a cooking demonstration, recipes, samples, ready-made prickly pear products for sale and live music.

Local produce selections at the Farmers’ Market include tomatoes, purslane, onions, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, okra, eggplant, garlic, basil, melons, apples and much more.  Shoppers can also find honey, dried beans and grains, eggs, herbal remedies, locally roasted coffee, garden plants and cacti.

The Farmers’ Market accepts credit and debit cards, food stamps, cash, and Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers for purchases.

For more information, contact Sara Rickard at (520) 622-0525 x 242.

Tucson Federal Credit Union held a “Christmas in July” competitive food drive to benefit the Community Food Bank during the month of July. All six TFCU branches as well as the corporate office participated in the contest. The goal was to collect one ton. The location that collected the most food won a trophy and a brick on the Community Food Bank’s Camino de Esperanza, or Path of Hope.

TFCU surpassed its goal, collecting 2221.5 pounds of food. They also collected $334.66 in cash donations, which translates to $3,011.94 worth of food that can be distributed by the food bank. The Sahuarita Branch, located at 15950 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd. in the Fry’s Marketplace, won the competition with 661 pounds of food collected.

The next food drive competition will take place from mid-November to mid-December.

FCU was founded in 1937 as Tucson Teachers Federal Credit Union. TFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, or attends school in Pima County.

The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) has awarded a three-year $293,215 Community Food Projects grant to the Community Food Bank in Tucson.

The grant will be used to create long-term solutions to improve food security in Pima County by providing education and training to low-income youth about food systems, sustainable farming methods and micro-enterprise opportunities and increase the amount of locally grown fresh produce consumed in our community.

The Marana Heritage Farm Youth Program, will take place at the 10-acre Community Food Bank Marana Heritage Farm.  Sixty low-income youth (ages 13-18) will participate in five apprentice sessions occurring each year; two low-income young adults (ages 18-24) will participate in six-month internships; and approximately 500 school children will visit and volunteer at the Marana Heritage Farm annually.

As part of the apprentice and intern programs, youth will have hands-on experience in small-scale, sustainable agriculture practices, actively direct farm projects, learn how to prepare produce they grow and create presentations that they will share with school and community groups.  Details and registration information are available at www.communityfoodbank.org.

“The Community Food Bank is proud to have this opportunity to teach middle and high school students and young adults about growing food and the effects of the food system on our health and community well being,” said Varga Garland, PhD, Director of the food bank’s Community Food Resource Center.

For more information contact Varga Garland at (520) 622-0525 x 220.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Angel Charity will present two awards to the Community Food Bank totaling $55,200.  The presentation will take place at the Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club Road.  Bill Carnegie, President/CEO will be on hand to accept the donation from Angel Charity representatives Gina-Murphy Darling – 2009 General Chairman, Shari Lowell -2008 General Chairman, Adeline Klemmedson – 2008 Vice Chairman and Carla Keegan -2008 Capital Campaign Underwriting Chair.

A $50,000 award from Angel Charity will go to open six new sites for the
Snak Paks for Kids® Nutrition Program.  This funding effectively doubles the program’s outreach from 540 to nearly 1,000 children. The new sites are Blenman Elementary, Drake Middle School, Holaway Elementary, Laguna Elementary, Los Amigos Elementary and Southside Community School.

The second award of $5,200 will enable the Community Food Bank to supply all of the children in the six additional schools with a special holiday box.  The existing sites have received these holiday boxes in the past and this award will allow the new sites to receive a holiday box.
The Community Food Bank’s Snak Paks for Kids® Program targets kids who may not have enough to eat at home on weekends.  The healthy food packages sent home with students on Friday help make sure that children return to school on Monday ready to learn.
“The Community Food Bank is honored to have been selected as a recipient of funding from Angel Charity,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO.  “These funds will allow us to open six new Snack Pak sites for local children in need.  It’s the children who will benefit from the Angels’ generosity.”

For more information, contact Pauline Hechler at (520) 622-0525 x 234

The 8th Annual Tucson African Heritage Network (T.A.H.N.) and HispaNet Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at the Starr Pass Golf Resort and Spa.   Starr Pass is located at 3645 West Starr Pass Boulevard.  Proceeds will go to benefit T.A.H.N., HispaNet and the Community Food Bank.

This is a four-person scramble with registration at 6:00 AM and a Shotgun Start at 7:00 AM.  Registration is $85 per player and includes green fees, cart, lunch and prizes.  All skill levels are welcome from amateur to professional and there will be a hole-in-one gift package, raffle and you may purchase “Mulligans.”  Collared shirts are a club requirement and no denim jeans or metal spikes are allowed.

To register contact Dominick Sabella at (520) 799-2425 or log on to http://thgolftournament.com/.  Fees are payable to Tucson African Heritage Network.  All players must register and pay fees by August 17, 2009.

T.A.H.N. commits to increase technology training, promotes the importance of technology education and encourages students to pursue careers in science and engineering through mentoring and community outreach events.  HispaNet strives to bring a greater awareness of the Hispanic culture and to promote a sense of community among all cultures that form the workplace.

For more information about the golf tournament, contact Adrienne Kyles at (520) 799-5218.

What:  Chess Tournament to benefit the Community Food Bank. 100% of proceeds go to the food bank.

When: Saturday, August 22, 2009 – Registration and check-in begins at 8:30 AM.

Where: Pima Medical Society Hall, 5199 E. Farness Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712. From Grant Road turn south onto Rosemont, then turn east on Farness Drive.

Description: 4 round Swiss tournament in 4 sections. Trophies will be awarded.

Schedule:  Round times will be at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:45 AM and 1:00 PM

Entry Fees: $20 if postmarked by August 19th, $25 thereafter or at the site.

Registration Information – Contact Vaishnav Aradhyula at (520) 299-5666 or log onto http://chessforcharity.giving.officelive.com