The Community Food Bank’s Good Groceries Mobile Market pilot project that has been serving the Sells, Arizona area with high quality, low cost food since February of this year is moving.

Beginning, Friday, July 18, 2008 the Mobile Market pilot project will be located at the old rentals basketball courts across from the Ki:Ki Association every other Friday from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Beginning July 18th the Summer Schedule for the Mobile Market pilot project will be:

Friday, July 18
Friday, August 1
Friday, August 15
Friday, August 29
Friday, September 12
Friday, September 26

The Mobile Market is a grocery store that travels to rural communities which have limited access to high quality, low cost food.  The Mobile Market brings convenient shopping for wholesome foods such as meat, canned goods, fresh produce, dairy and more.  Everyone is welcome; there is no need to qualify.  The more people shop, the better the prices will be.  Cash and Food Stamps are welcome (please no checks, debit or credit cards).

For more information on the Good Groceries Mobile Market pilot project, contact Mary Jo Moser at (520) 622-0525 x 269 or by cell phone at (520) 784-4669.

The Community Food Bank has been awarded the Charity Navigator 4-Star Award for Sound Fiscal Management. 

“We are proud to announce the Community Food Bank of Tucson has earned our 4-Star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances,” said Michael Smith, Interim President/CEO of Charity Navigator. “This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates the Community Food Bank of Tucson from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”  Full details of the Community Food Bank 4-Star Award are available online at www.charitynavigator.org.

Charity Navigator, is an independent national charity evaluator, that works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 of America’s largest charities.

“The staff and Board of the Community Food Bank have always placed a high priority on the good stewardship of its resources,” stated Bill Young, Treasurer of the Food Bank Board of Directors.  “This award is an acknowledgement of the extraordinary commitment by the Community Food Bank staff, not only to manage the very generous contributions from the community, but also to utilize these contributions to maximize the quality and availability of services to the hungry of Pima County.  As Treasurer and long time Board member, I am continually amazed at the commitment, professionalism and compassion demonstrated by the Community Food Bank staff and volunteers.”

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

The Community Food Bank’s “Drive Away Hunger” Car Raffle drawing will take place on Friday, June 13, 2008.  The drawing will be at Jim Click Ford at 6420 E. 22nd Street (22nd and Wilmot) at 10:00 AM.

The winner of the “Drive Away Hunger” Car Raffle will have the choice of a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid or $25,000 in cash.  If the winner chooses the Mariner Hybrid, it will be ordered at the time of the drawing. The winner does not have to be present to win and has five working days to decide on taking the vehicle or the cash.

The deadline for purchasing tickets is Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 4:00 PM. Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100 here or by calling (520) 622-0525 x 492.

Net proceeds benefit the Community Food Bank and will be used to help feed hungry people in Southern Arizona.

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

Crosby, Stills and Nash has partnered with WHY (World Hunger Year) to put food on the shelves of the Community Food Bank at their concert on June 23, 2008. 

Crosby, Stills and Nash and WHY ask that “If You’re a Fan, Bring a Can” of non-perishable food that will be collected by the Community Food Bank to feed the hungry in Southern Arizona.  Most needed items are canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and canned tomato products

The concert will be held at the Anselmo Valencia Ampitheatre 5655 West Valencia Road in Tucson, Arizona.  The doors open at 7:00 PM and the Crosby, Stills and Nash concert begins at 8:00 PM.

Concert goers are asked to drop off their food donations at the Community Food Bank’s display as they enter the concert.

The Community Food Bank wishes to thank Crosby, Stills and Nash and WHY for their support during this June 23rd concert.

For additional information about the Community Food bank food drive, contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215.

Eurofresh Farms of Willcox, Arizona, current supplier of tomatoes to the Community Food Bank, has assured the Food Bank that their tomatoes are not contaminated with the salmonella infection that has been reported recently in the national and local media.

“Eurofresh Farms has never experienced any reported food-bourn illnesses in the company’s 16-year history,” states a message on the Eurofresh Web site.  The full message may be found at www.eurofresh.com.  They further state that they will continue to carefully monitor and control all contact with their product, from inception to final delivery.

The US Food and Drug Administration believes that the tomatoes contamination was initially concentrated to Texas and New Mexico.

The Community Food Bank distributes fresh produce, including Eurofresh Farms tomatoes through our Tucson’s Table, TEFAP-Emergency Food Box, Food Plus and Value Foods Store programs.

For more information, contact Eric Hitzeman at (520) 622-0525 x 238.

Green Valley and Sahuarita residents responded generously leaving boxes and bags of non-perishable food items at their mailboxes on Saturday to help in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

This year’s goal was 30,000 pounds of non-perishables and $30,000 in cash or checks.  As of Friday, May 30, we have collected $32,625 and 30,014 pounds of food.

“We are grateful to the entire community, our volunteers and of course the Green Valley letter carriers and the Sahuarita Rural Carriers for making this year’s food drive a huge success,” Branch Manager, Mary Jane Goodrick said, adding that since they are seeing a 60 percent increase of families in need over last year the results of this food drive will make a difference in helping meet local needs.

In another recent campaign where The Feinstein Foundation challenged food banks nationwide to raise funds and food donations between March 1 and April 30 the Community Food Bank received $68,048.29 in cash and checks and $126,968 in food items for a total of $195,016.29.  This was through the generosity of 1,491 donors. 

The value of food items is based on $1.00 per item per pound. 

The Community Food Bank has participated in the Feinstein Foundation challenge annually since 2001. Goodrick called the results very worthwhile and said, “The community embraces the challenge annually.”

Tucson Coin & Autograph will offer a free Arizona State Quarter with the donation of a non-perishable food item to the Community Food Bank.  Tucson Coin & Autograph is located at 6470 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, Arizona 85704.

The Arizona State Quarter was officially released at the State Capital on June 2, 2008

The Community Food Bank is in special need of help during the summer months when food donations are at there lowest level.  Most needed items are non-perishable food such as canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and canned tomato products.

Tucson Coin & Autograph will have the new quarters in their inventory by June 9, 2008 at their location at 6470 N. Oracle Road.

For more information contact Brett Sadovnick at (520) 219-4427.

The Marana Community Food Bank has launched the “Community Partner” program.  This program recruits area businesses to become “designated drop off” locations for food donations in the Marana area.

A “Community Partner” can be identified by posters and food drive bins at their business locations. They will join hands with the Marana Community Food Bank to help the community in time of need.  Requests for emergency food boxes are up dramatically and this is the time of the year when donations are at their lowest level.

Community Partner locations are at:
KENPO Karate    
7575 W. Twin Peaks #125   
Tucson, AZ 85743    

The Golf Villas at Oro Valley
10950 N. La Canada Drive
Tucson, AZ 85737

KEVA Juice     
8250 N. Cortaro Rd., Suite 110  
Tucson, AZ 85743    

National Bank of Arizona
11853 W. Marana Road
Marana, AZ 85653

Package Express    
3773 W. Ina Road, Suite 150   
Tucson, AZ  85741    

Gary Nicholl, Agent State Farm Ins.
9110 N. Silverbell, #170
Tucson, AZ 85743-8172

Integrity Automotive   
6621 N. Thornydale Road   
Tucson, AZ 85741-2737   

Oro Valley Ace Hardware
11921 N. 1st Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85737

Saddlebrooke Unity 47 Community Out-Reach Program
(520) 818-0194

More “Community Partner” locations will be added in the future.  Check our Web site for new additions at http://communityfoodbank.com/branch-banks/marana/

For more information, contact Cecilia Munoz, Marana Community Food Bank Manager at (520) 682-3001 or by e-mail at maranafb@communityfoodbank.org

The winner of the Community Food Bank’s “Drive Away Hunger” car raffle will now have a choice of a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid or $25,000.  The 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is one-year newer than previously announced, due to availability, and will be ordered at the time of the drawing if the winner chooses that option.

Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100 and are available here or by calling (520) 622-0525 x 492.  Entries must be received by Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 4:00 PM.  A maximum of 5500 tickets will be sold.

The drawing for the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid will take place on Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM at Jim Click Ford at 22nd and Wilmot in Tucson.

A comprehensive list of raffle rules and eligibility for the “Drive Away Hunger” car raffle are available here.

Net proceeds benefit the Community Food Bank and will be used to help hungry people in Southern Arizona.

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

The Knights of Columbus 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament was held on Monday, March 24, 2008 at Desert Hills Golf Club was a huge success.  This year the recipients of the $14,000 raised are the Green Valley Community Food Bank and Casa de Esperanza.