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.

The Kids Farmers’ Market Program official ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Friday, April 13, 2012 at 3:00 PM at Wade Carpenter Middle School (595 West Kino Boulevard).  The Kids Farmer’s Market is a program of the Nogales Community Food Bank.

The Kids Farmers’ Market Program will put fresh produce directly into the hands of students on their way home from school.  The program will help the Nogales Food Bank and the community celebrate children and their family member’s excitement about healthy eating.

The Kids Farmers’ Market Program has been aided by a grant from Walmart to purchase a refrigerated truck that will be used to travel to five area public elementary schools (during the growing season November through April) each month with the fresh produce for the students.

“It is the intention of the Kids Farmers’ Market to promote healthy eating among children,” said Arthur Espinoza, Executive Director of the Nogales Community Food Bank.  “We hope that it will also raise the awareness in the homes of the children of Santa Cruz County to help prevent childhood obesity.”

The Nogales Community Food Bank is a branch of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

For more information contact Arthur Espinoza at (520) 281-2790, cell at (520) 982-2554 or aespinoza@communityfoodbank.org.

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

For the 20^th 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 20^th 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 12^th.   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.

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.

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 15^th 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.

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

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.

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 Nogales Community Food Bank will hold a grand opening for their new facility at 2636 Donna Avenue in Nogales, Arizona on Thursday, December 9, 2010.  The grand opening will begin at 11:00 AM and the community is invited.

The event will begin with music provided by the Nogales High School Apache Band. Yvette Gonzalez will sing the National Anthem followed by remarks by Food Bank representatives and local elected officials including Arturo Garino, newly elected Mayor of Nogales and 7^th District Congressman Raul Grijalva.

The Nogales Community Food Bank will be housed in a new 10,000 square foot warehouse strategically located off Produce Row which allows for a more timely response to picking up donations from local produce brokers. These brokers have been generous supporters of the Nogales Community Food Bank.

“The new location will allow the Nogales Community Food Bank to accept more donations due to the larger storage space,” said Arthur Espinoza, Executive Director.  “Since the Food Bank is now serving over 2,500 clients per month, the additional space will help a great deal.”

Additionally, two new Food Bank vehicles will be dedicated during the grand opening.  The new Hybrid Electric/Diesel refrigerated truck housed in Nogales and the 53 foot refrigerated semi-trailer truck housed in Amado, Arizona will be on display.

The Nogales Community Food Bank is an affiliate of the Community Food Bank in Tucson.

For more information, contact Arthur Espinoza at (520) 281-2790.

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