Barry and Janet Lang and Jim and Sandy Peebles will each make a gift of $30,000 to  launch the “Lang/Peebles $60,000 Fill the Shelves Challenge” to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  The community is asked to meet the challenge by going online and making a donation.  If someone does not have access to the internet, they may call (520) 622-0525 and ask to donate to the challenge.

The Langs and Peebles are challenging the community to match their gifts now through December 31, 2011 to help replenish food supplies that have been depleted by increased demands and decreased government food during these difficult economic times.  For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can distribute $9.50 worth of food; therefore, with the match, the Food Bank will be able to distribute over $1 million worth of food!

One in four children in Pima County is at risk of hunger.  According to the Langs and Peebles, “One of our goals is that no child goes hungry this holiday season, and we sincerely challenge the community to help us meet this goal.”

For more information on the “Lang/Peebles $60,000 Fill the Shelves Challenge” contact Pauline Hechler at (520) 882-3308.

All workshops on Tuesday, Dec 13,

at Manzo Elementary School, 855 N. Melrose. Tucson, Arizona 85745

9:00-10:00 (English) and 10:00-11:00am (English and Spanish), two hands-on basic chicken care and “chicken whispering” workshops. Both are open to the public, kids are encouraged.

5:30-7:00pm (English and Spanish) This larger event will be partially outside in the courtyard and partially (or entirely, if it’s especially cold that night), in the cafeteria. This workshop focuses on using chickens not only for egg production but also for gardens, classroom assistants, etc.

Click to View Flyer>>

On December 10 and 11, 2011, both Maya Palace locations (6332 E. Broadway Blvd and 7057 N. Oracle) will donate 10% of all sales to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  They will also have collection boxes for customers to donate non-perishable food items.

Maya Palace will also have their Holiday Open House at the El Mercado location (6332 E. Broadway Blvd.) on December 16^th and our encouraging other businesses in El Mercado to join in the food drive that day as well.

For more information on these events, contact Wendy Carlson at (520) 748-0817

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.

Get your mask on, Tucson!

Celebrate Mardi Gras 2012 with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
and King & Queen of Carnivale Ron & Nancy Barber.

Saturday, January 28, 7:00 p.m.
The Manning House
$100 Per Person
Sponsorships & reserved tables available.

Tarot card readers, live entertainment by Zo Carroll and the Soul Breakers, Batucaxe, Flam Chen, and 80s and Gentleman. Enjoy a New Orleans style dinner and desert, cocktails, dancing, photo booth and mask raffle.

Tickets are no longer available online. They may still be purchased at the door.

Masks created by local artists

There will be over 30 handmade masks displays at local Tucson restaurants leading up to the event. The masks will be raffled at Mardi Gras with proceeds benefiting the food bank.

Tucson Originals Restaurants that are displaying the masks:

• Delectables Restaurant & Catering
• Bushi Traditional Japanese & Asian Cuisine
• Jonathan’s Cork
• Renee’s Organic Oven
• Vero Amore
• Noble Hops Gastropub
• Venice Restaurant & Pizzeria
• Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks & Hoagies
• Pastiche Modern Eatery
• Mr. An’s Sushi

Presenting Sponsor

Carnivale Sponsor

Royalty Sponsor

Jackson Square Sponsors

Krewe Sponsors

Revelers

Diane Frisch, Keegan, Linscott & Kenon, Williams Foundation, Palm Court Inn, Stephanie Porter, Quality Restoration, ResCare, Retro Trek, Doug Taren

Media Sponsors

Mardi Gras 2012 committee masking up for the most fantastic event of the year! L to R: Tara Bruce, Kristin Salerno, Stephanie Porter, Jessica Castillo and Whitney Misenhimer

View slideshow from Mardi Gras 2011

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 is running in short supply of both food and cash this holiday season.  Over 250,000 Southern Arizonans receive help from the food bank each month, and this holiday season, the demand is greater than ever.

For this reason, three highly concerned local businesses have teamed up in an effort to collect twenty thousand turkeys…all for donation to The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. The collection will take place on December 15^th, 2011.  Luis Gonzales, retired Diamondback baseball outfielder (20), has agreed to shoot TV commercial and radio commercials for the 20,000 Turkeys for Tucson Challenge.

Casino Del Sol Resort, Mr. An’s Teppan Steak and Sushi and An del Sol, and Tucson Appliance Company are coordinating this effort, an idea that the three key owners / operators developed out of concern for their local community.

Southern Arizonans are asked to  donate turkeys (or cash donations for food) at on Thursday, December 15^th, Casino del Sol Resort, Mr. An’s Teppan Steak and Sushi, and Tucson Appliance from 6AM until 7PM. Trucks will be transporting turkey donations to The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona throughout the day.

The businesses will be competing to see who can secure the most turkeys and cash.  Each business owner has vowed to rally their customers to bring in more donations than the other.  Chris Edwards will dress up in a costume and collect each item; he has a special offer up his sleeve for all who donate.  Mr. An will be at his Oracle location and will personally except all donations as he has done for the past 3 years.  And Casino del Sol Resort promises to pull out all the stops and will have a gift for each person that donates.  The true winners are the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and the families they serve.

Locations: 

Casino del Sol Resort
5655 W. Valencia

Mr.  An’s  Teppan Steak and Sushi
6091 N. Oracle

Tucson Appliance Companies
4229 E. Speedway

Wells Fargo Bank and KOLD-TV will team up on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 to “Stuff the Wells Fargo Stagecoach” to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.  The stagecoach will be located at the Wells Fargo Bank at 6270 N. Oracle (near Oracle & Orange Grove) from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Non-perishable food donations will be accepted and the most needed items are peanut butter and tuna fish.  Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Help stuff the Wells Fargo Stagecoach on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at Oracle and Orange Grove.