The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona has announced that Jessie Baxter has been appointed Government Resource Specialist effective October 31, 2011.

Previously, Ms. Baxter held a staff position with Sharon Bronson, Pima County Board of Supervisors, served as Executive Director of the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission and was Senior Community Organizer with People, Resources, Organizations (PRO) in Support of Neighborhoods.

Ms. Baxter has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing from the University of Missouri.

Ms. Baxter will serve as the liaison officer with private and government entities to secure funding and /or favorable public policy to support the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona operations, special projects and programs in Pima County and Southern Arizona.

“We are excited to have Jessie with us to extend our reach into the government sector and take the lead on government grants and contracts,” said Pauline Hechler, Chief Development Officer for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  “She is a smart, capable individual with energy to spare.”

For more information, contact Pauline Hechler at (520) 882-3308.

This holiday season Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market shoppers will find a variety of distinctively southwest gifts to choose from at the weekly Thursday market.  Healthy and locally made gifts include raw mesquite honey, prickly pear jams, mesquite flour mixes, Sonoran plants and more.  If market goers are looking for a more personal gift, on December 15^th they will also have the opportunity to make holiday ornaments with their children at the arts and crafts table.  These family friendly craft activities are free and will be located alongside live music and a comfortable grassy courtyard.  Those shoppers preparing for an upcoming holiday meal can also expect to find a great selection of sweet potatoes, green onions, apples, early citrus and a variety of leafy greens and winter squash.

All of the Community Food Bank Farmers’ Markets accept SNAP (food stamps), WIC checks, Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition vouchers, cash, credit and debit cards.  The Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at El Mercado San Agustin, located at 100. S. Avenida del Convento, west of 1-10, near the corner of Congress and Grande.

For more information, contact Monica Garcia at (520) 882-3304.

Thanksgiving on the Mayflower broke the record for the largest amount ever donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona from a public event in one day.

Donors gave more than 6,600 pounds of food and over $113,000 in cash to the Community Food Bank. The donations were matched dollar-for-dollar by Tucson Electric Power resulting in a total monetary donation of $226,000!

On November 17, in the parking lot of Sunflower Market on N. 1st Ave in Tucson, donors streamed in throughout the day with contributions that ranged from a jar of quarters to checks for $20,000. Families brought in boxes of food from their pantries. School children donated the pennies, nickels and dimes in their piggy banks.

Heartfelt thanks to Tucson Electric Power and 94.9 MIXfm! Thanks also to Meridian Mayflower Moving Systems, IBEW Local 1116, Rosemont Copper, Sunflower Markets, dedicated volunteers and all of our wonderful donors!gtdmsfnvgffgvzvc

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and its five branch food banks are experiencing a reduction in USDA food items and produce donations this year.  The Food Bank’s inventory is presently over a million pounds less than last year at this time.  “We are highly concerned about the holiday season”, indicated Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO, “this is a time of extremely high demand due to the economy and we have less to give”, he added.

Delivery of the USDA food items has slowed due to reductions in spending by the federal government.  Lower produce donations are a result of freezing temperatures experienced by farmers in Mexico earlier this year and farmers now, are just beginning to recover.

The demand for help from families in Southern Arizona continues to rise.  In 2007, the Food Bank was assisting about 98,000 men, women and children each month, today the number in need has risen to nearly 240,000.

“This is a perfect storm scenario for the Community Food Bank, with increasing numbers of people in need and reductions in donations of money and food”, Carnegie added.

For those who wish to help, log onto www.communityfoodbank.org or call (520) 622-0525 to make a donation, learn how to conduct a food drive or volunteer.

For more information, contact Bill Carnegie at (520) 622-0525.

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 has announced the officers and new board members for 2011-2012.  Fran McNeely, Community Volunteer will continue as chair of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona Board of Directors.  Joining her as Co-Vice Chairs are Karen Heyse, Director of Training Tucson Electric Power and Gregg Johnson, Southern Arizona Campus Director University of Phoenix.  Greg Kishi, Senior Technical Staff Engineer IBM will serve as secretary and Bret Berry, Senior Audit Manager, Keegan, Linscott, Kenon will serve as Treasurer.

Two new members were elected to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona Board.  Alyssa Martinez, University of Arizona Eller College of Management student was elected as a Youth Board Member for a one year term and Katrina Heineking, Chief Executive Officer Sun Tran/Sun Van was elected to a three year term.

“The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is fortunate to have a diverse group of community leaders serving on its board,” said Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO. “Strong board leadership is instrumental in our attaining a 4-Star rating by Charity Navigator, “ he added.

The officers and board members were elected at the October 28, 2011 Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona Board Meeting.

Other continuing board members are K.C. An, Rosalva Bullock, Jennifer Casteix, Barry Corey, Michael Dorer, Mark Fay, Diane Frisch, Jamie Gutierrez, Monique Grigg Harley, Sarah Jezairian, Jim Kolbe, Sam R. Levitz, Katie Maxwell, Stephanie Porter, Douglas Taren and Bill Young.

For additional information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215 or at jparris@communityfoodbank.org

Many in Tucson are familiar with the shady mesquite trees that fill our neighborhoods, but few may know that these native trees also provide an excellent source of food.  Mesquite pods are a versatile food that may be ground up into a nutritious flour or processed to make sweeteners.  Unfortunately, mesquite seeds are difficult to open using home methods.  On Nov. 17^th, the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market will partner with Desert Harvesters to provide an easier way to process these abundant seeds.  For a minimum of $5, those wishing to grind their clean and dry mesquite pods can bring them to the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market to be milled into flour they can take home and to use for baking.

Visitors to the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market will also be treated with free bike tune ups and accessories provided by Menlo Bikes.  The group will teach cyclists how to fix flat tires and maintain their bikes.  Menlo Bikes is a neighborhood bicycle project that encourages and facilitates bicycle use for Menlo Park residents.

The mesquite milling is open to the public and runs from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  Shoppers will also be able to enjoy children’s activities and live music.   All of the Community Food Bank farmers’ markets accept SNAP (food stamps), WIC checks, Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition vouchers, cash, credit and debit cards.  Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at El Mercado San Agustin, located at 100. S. Avenida del Convento, west of 1-10, near the corner of Congress and Grande.

Menlo Bikes is part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative to prevent or reduce obesity through increased opportunities for improved nutrition and physical activity.  Led by the Pima County Health Department, CPPW is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona has received a $26,566.10 donation from Valero for the “Fill Up to Fight Hunger Campaign” that took place in Southern Arizona from April through the end of June 2011.

For each 8-gallon fuel purchase made at participating outlets, Valero donated $1.00 to the local food bank in the area, including the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  The donations were coordinated through Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger relief charity.

“Valero has always believed in giving back to the communities where we do business and this will help local food banks address some of the increased demand for their services,” said David Parker, Valero’s Senior Vice President for Product Supply & Wholesale Marketing.

“This donation could not have come at a better time,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  “The need is greatest during the upcoming holiday season and we appreciate Valero’s support.”

For more information contact Valero Media Relations at (210) 345-2928.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and its five branch food banks are experiencing a reduction in USDA food items and produce donations this year.  The Food Bank’s inventory is presently over a million pounds less than last year at this time.  “We are highly concerned about the holiday season”, indicated Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO, “this is a time of extremely high demand due to the economy and we have less to give”, he added.

Delivery of the USDA food items has slowed due to reductions in spending by the federal government.  Lower produce donations are a result of freezing temperatures experienced by farmers in Mexico earlier this year and farmers now, are just beginning to recover.

The demand for help from families in Southern Arizona continues to rise.  In 2007, the Food Bank was assisting about 98,000 men, women and children each month, today the number in need has risen to nearly 240,000.

“This is a perfect storm scenario for the Community Food Bank, with increasing numbers of people in need and reductions in donations of money and food”, Carnegie added.

For those who wish to help, log onto www.communityfoodbank.org or call (520) 622-0525 to make a donation, learn how to conduct a food drive or volunteer.

For more information, contact Bill Carnegie at (520) 622-0525.

Five non-profit organizations in Tucson will receive special $10,000 grants from the Sundt Foundation, thanks to a recent sale of artwork belonging to Sundt.  The Five organizations are The American Red Cross, Southern Arizona Chapter, Candelighters Child Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona, El Rio Community Health Center, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and University Medical Center Foundation.

The paintings hung in Sundt’s Tucson headquarters on East Irvington Road for many years.  However, when the company moved to a new facility on River Road, the Western Themed art was not compatible with building’s contemporary interior design.  The senior management opted to sell the artwork and donate the proceeds to the Sundt Foundation.

“The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is especially thankful to the Sundt Foundation for their generosity,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO.  “The Food Bank will secure about 150,000 pounds of highly nutritious produce for low-income families across Southern Arizona.  This donation could not have come at a better time.”

For more information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 882-3287.