Economy puts Strain on Food Bank's Resources

Those of us who work at St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance are well aware of the effect the current economic stiuation has had on demand for our services: our demand is up 56% in 2009 v. 2008, and up about 100% over 2007. For Thanksgiving we provided over 55,000 people with food. But we also know that this situation is being repeated across the country, as people struggle with job losses and rising expenses. The article located at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CHALLENGED_CHARITIES?SITE=AZSUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT highlights the challenges faced by both the charities and the people they serve.

Working Together to Deliver Christmas Cheer

For the twelfth consecutive year, local non-profits, volunteers, and the US Marine Corps are coming together to deliver food and toys to the Havasupai Village located in the Grand Canyon. Toys 4 Tots of Northern Arizona will supply the toys, and for the seventh year St. Mary’s Food Bank is supplying the food – more than 125 food boxes and turkeys. Also included in this year’s delivery is a 10-foot tall noble fir tree.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, December 15 and 16, a trio of Marine Corps helicopters will descend to the floor of the Canyon to deliver the goods. According to Eric Wolverton, manager of St. Mary’s Flagstaff facility, “It’s an amazing opportunity. The Marines and the kids are smiling all the time, and it works out well with us because we’re able to assist the families.”

On the 16th, a helicopter will bring Santa Claus to the Canyon floor and a meal will be served to the entire community.

Cardinal Fans Step up to aid St. Mary's

Kudos to fans of the Arizona Cardinals for their donating $9,643 and 2,447 pounds of food before the Cardinals-Seahawks game on Nov.15. Their donation provided the equivalent of 69,948 meals, and they got to cheer on the home team to a 31-20 victory!

Economic Conditions Lead to Increased use of Food Stamps

Now one in eight Americans, and one in four children, use food stamps. Current usage is estimated at more than 36 million and growing at a rate of 20,000/day. In 239 counties in the US, over 25% of the population uses food stamps. Go to
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html to see an interactive map showing the breakdown by county of food stamp usage as well as the growth in use from 2007 to 2009. (Maricopa County had a 69% growth in usage from 2007-09.)

Food Pantries, Food Banks see Increased use by Seniors

Food pantries and food banks nationwide are seeing a significant increase in visits by senior citizens hit hard by the recession. Many of the elderly who formerly were donors and/or volunteers for these organizations find that they are now, reluctantly for many, using them as a lifeline as rising food prices and depleted savings are hitting them hard. USDA statistics show that 4.7 million American households used food pantries in 2008, up from 3.7 million two years earlier. Those statistics also show 408,000 seniors living alone used food pantries in 2008, an increase of 81% from 2006.

Give Yourself the Gift of Education for the Holidays

This December St. Mary's Food Bank is offering you the opportunity to learn about the issues of hunger, poverty and nutrition at one of its Hunger 101 sessions. These free one-hour seminars are held in the Volunteer Center at its 2831 N. 31st Ave. Phoenix location. Offerings this month include: Faces of Hunger on Dec. 8 at 11am; Fast Foods: Making Healthy Choices on Dec. 10 at 9am; and Advocacy & Action on Dec. 15 at 11am. For more info, or to make a reservation, contact Raymond Combe at rlcombe@firstfoodbank.org or 602 343-3164.

Attend the "Fiesta" and aid St. Mary's

For 23 years the APS Fiesta of Lights Parade has brightened the Holiday season. This years edition takes place in Central Phoenix on Dec. 5. St. Mary's will be part of the festivities; one of our trucks, festooned with lights, will participate. At two points along the route - Central & Camelback and 7th St. & Camelback - food and monetary donations will be collected. So, come out, watch the parade, and help the Food Bank.

ASU & U of A Join in Fight Against Hunger

ASU & UofA sports fans rarely agree on anything, but they are uniting in the fight against hunger. This Saturday, Nov. 28, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring a "Territorial Cup Food Fight" prior to kickoff. Fans of both teams should bring non-perishable food items to numerous food-drop locations around Sun Devil Stadium before the game.

Former Employee Remembers the Food Bank

Kudos to Amanda Myers and McMurry Charities. Ms. Myers, a former employee of St. Mary's Food Bank, and currently an editor at McMurry Publishing, was instrumental in influencing McMurry Charities to donate $5,000 to St. Mary's on her behalf. This contribution will provide up to 35,000 meals.

Help Make This Saturday 'SUPER'
This Saturday, November 21, for the third consecutive year, St. Mary's Food Bank is holding its Super Saturday event. We'll be collecting frozen turkeys at nine sites throughout the Valley (and one in Flagstaff). For list of sites, visit www.firstfoodbank.org; come out and help us provide Holiday meals for those in need.

Because Hunger Doesn't Take Vacations . . . Let's Talk Turkey

One of the unique ways created by St. Mary's Food Bank to help fight hunger is the Buy-a-Bird program. Purchase one of our special toy turkeys, Mr. Touchdown, Toni Can-Can, or Sheriff Tex, and generate up to 140 meals for those in need. They make great gifts for friends or relatives. Businesses can send them to their clients with a note telling each customer that a gift to the Food Bank has been made in their name. Although turkeys are usually associated with the Holidays, our turkeys are appropriate any time of the year, 'cause hunger never takes a vacation. For more information or to order your bird(s), visit http://www.buyabird.org/.

Hold a Food Drive . . . 'cause Hunger Never Takes a Vacation

Here's a great idea for your school, church, business, neighborhood, or civic organization - hold a food drive for St. Mary's Food Bank. The demand for food at St. Mary's is up 60% over last year. Food drives are an important way for the general public to "connect" with the Food Bank in its mission to fight hunger in Arizona. Call the food drive hotline at 602 343-3173 or visit http://www.firstfoodbank.org/ to sign up.

Feed Your Mind This Holiday Season

Spend an hour, learn a lot, at one of the Hunger 101 sessions during October or November. Learn about the isuues of poverty, hunger, and nutrition. These free programs are held in the air-conditioned Volunteer Center at St. Mary's Food Bank at 2831 N. 31st Ave. Sessions include "Faces of Hunger" on Oct. 9th @9-10am and Nov. 9th @10-11am; "Advocacy & Action" on Oct. 23rd @9-10am and Nov. 16th @10-11am; and "Fast Foods:Making Healthy Choices" on Oct. 30 @9-10am and Nov. 2nd @10-11am.

To learn more, or to reserve a seat, contact Raymond Combe at rlcombe@firstfoodbank.org or 602 343-3164.

Valley High Schools Join the Fight on Hunger

More than a dozen Valley high schools are joining a nation-wide assault on hunger. Beginning on Sept. 14 and running for six weeks, local high schools will be competing to see who can collect the most food and claim the John van Hengel Cup, won last year by Glendale's Mountain Ridge High School. One of six schools that competed in last year's event, Mountain Ridge will face increased competition this go round. All the food collected will go to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance.

Download or Share Great Pork Recipes to Fight Hunger
In conjunction with their "National Eat Together Week", the National Pork Board will hold a "Click For The Cause" promotion through Sept. 26. Visit http://www.theotherwhitemeat.com/TOWM_promoNETW.aspx, select a recipe or share one with others, and the Pork Board will send five pounds of pork product to a food bank.

Recession Drives Poverty Rates Higher
Logic would indicate that the recession, which according to economists began in December 2007, would drive up the poverty rate. And now a report issued by the Census Bureau has confirmed the fact. The recession has had an effect in other areas as well; a decline in the number of people with private or employer-provided health insurance, and stagnation in middle-class incomes. To access a NY Times article on the subject, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/us/11poverty.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1252695640-eLIoq17nWgz459pZ5g0JkA

In case you didn't know . . . Don't Mess With Phoenix

To celebrate Hunger Action Month, Feeding America and The Cheesecake Factory are holding a cross-country tour, 30 cities in 30 days, collecting food for local food banks and giving out cheesecake. Phoenix was the sixth stop. Over the first five stops they collected 3,140 cans, then came to Phoenix on Sunday from 7-10am. In the middle of a three-day weekend, and early in the morning, the people of Phoenix donated 3,069 cans. The tour then moved on to Denver; cooler weather and the middle of the day, they collected 760 cans. Thank you Phoenix for setting the bar so high! For some photos of the event visit http://www.facebook.com/thecheesecakefactory#/album.php?aid=145089&id=106628409154&ref=mf.

Local Restaurants Step up to Help Food Bank

In the current economic climate, where demand for food from St. Mary's is up over 60%, here are two places that are stepping up to help with food and/or funds:
On Sept. 9, bring one or more packages of ramen noodles to any local Pei Wei and receive 50% off their new Japanese Chile Beef Ramen. Pei Wei will donate the noodles and make a cash donation to St. Mary's.
On Sept. 12, the T.G.I.Friday's in Glendale (5855 W. Bell Rd., 602 843-9000) will be having a "Best Bartender" competition. Waitresses will be "selling" seats, auctioning special drinks, and they'll be give-aways and raffles (must be present to win). Patrons are encouraged to bring a bag of non-perishable items as a cover charge. For more info, contact the restaurant.

Cody Comes Through

Cody Mitchell, the precocious 7-year old highlighted on my Facebook page, held his much-anticpated book sale to benefit St. Mary's Food Bank on August 29 & 30. Even 110 degree temperatures did little to keep people away; Cody's book sale managed to raise over $850 + hundreds of pounds of food. People even brought books, leaving Cody with almost as many books after the sale as he had when he started; he will donate any leftover books to the Phoenix Veterans Hospital. For a look at what went on: http://www.azfamily.com/video/geaz-index.html?nvid=393725.

St. Mary's Fills Shelves for Prescott Valley Food Bank

The Yavapai Food Bank in Prescott Valley was close to running out of food in the face of increasing demand caused by the effects of the current economic slowdown. Word of their predicament got back to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, and like the cavalry riding to the rescue in the Old West, St. Mary's sent a semi-truck from their Phoenix facility with pallets of food and produce. In the future, one semi will visit Yavapai each week. To see the complete story, visit http://www.prescottvalleytribune.com/ and click on the St. Mary's link.

Feed Your Mind by Attending a "Cool" Hunger 101 Session

This September inform yourself on issues of hunger, poverty and nutrition by attending a Hunger 101 session. All are given in the air-conditioned Volunteer Center at our 31st Ave. location (2831 N. 31st Ave.). Sessions include: Faces of Hunger on Sept. 9 from 10-11am; Label Me Nutritious on Sept. 16 from 10-11am; The Food Game on Sept. 22 from 1-3pm; Advocacy & Action on Sept. 23 from 10-11am; Fast Foods: Making Healthy Choices on Sept. 29 from 12-1pm; Impacts of Hunger on Sept. 30 from 10-11am.

For more information, or to register, call Raymond Combe at 602 343-3164 or rlcombe@firstfoodbank,org.

Tyson's Hunger Relief Site: a good source for hunger & nutrition info

Visit http://hungerrelief.tyson.com/ to learn about various programs (including high school food drives in Phoenix) supported by Tyson Foods. There are also links to other blogs and websites, including our own Hunger 101 AZ.

Foundation Report Notes Lack of Data on Child Poverty

The KidsCount report, issued annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, highlights the need for better tracking and analyzing for trends in childhood poverty. The report suggests strengthening efforts by the Federal Government to update its management of data gathering during the upcoming 2010 census, and resist the temptation to cut data collecting and analysis costs during the current recession. To read more, and see the report itself, visit http://www.aecf.org/.

Nothing Fishy about a lack of Vitamin D

Studies show that a lack of Vitamin D can lead to a number of health problems in children and teens. For the complete story, visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111509588 and find out how to increase your intake of this important vitamin.

Come in out of the Heat . . . into a "Cool" Hunger 101 Session

During August, Hunger 101 carries on its mission of educating on issues of poverty, hunger, and nutrition by offering the following sessions: on Aug. 7 @ 11:30am "Faces of Hunger"; on Aug. 14 @ 11:30am "Label Me Nutritious"; on Aug. 21 @10:30am "Advocacy & Action". These classes, which last less than an hour, are held in the air-conditioned Volunteer Center at our 31st Ave. location. For more information, or to register for one of the sessions, contact Raymond Combe at 602 343-3164 or at rlcombe@firstfoodbank.org.

Keep Up-to-Date on Health & Nutrition Issues

This website contains a wealth of data and information on health & nutrition for men, women, and children. Issues such as nutrition, fitness, pregnancy, and medications are featured at http://health.msn.com/tools-and-resources/?GT1=31036.

The CDC and Your Health

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is a good source for information on issues related to health and physical fitness. Many of the articles and information are also in Spanish. Visit the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/matteHealthy.htm.

Take the Highways and Aid the Food Bank

Since its founding in 1925, Arizona Highways magazine has received national and world-wide acclaim for its photos of the grandeur and beauty that is Arizona. Now the magazine is helping St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance. For each new subscriber who visits http://www.arizonahighways.com/ through September 30 and orders a subscription using promo code V9FF24, the magazine will donate $3 to help the Food Bank fight hunger in Arizona.

Concerts Raise Funds for Food Bank

The current economic climate has resulted in a significant increase in demand at St. Mary's Food Bank - the demand for food has doubled during the first six months of 2009 vs. the same period a year ago. Unfortunately, monetary donations have lagged behind the demand. However, among the positive developments are the number of concerts that have occurred in Phoenix where the performers have donated funds for the Food Bank. So thanks to Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, the Indigo Girls, and Earth, Wind and Fire for their efforts on our behalf - for the thousands they've donated, and for the thousands of meals those dollars provided to those in need.

Free Food (for your mind) at Hunger 101

Hunger 101 is an education program of St. Mary's Food Bank that covers the subjects of hunger, poverty, and nutrition. Each month we cover these topics in a series of sessions, most less than an hour, at our 31st Ave. location. Join us in July for:

• Faces of Hunger on July 7 from 1:00-2:00PM
• Label Me Nutritious on July 14 from 1:00-2:00PM
• Advocacy & Action on July 15 from 12:00-1:00PM
• Impacts of Hunger on July 21 from 1:00-2:00PM
• Fast Foods: Making Healthy Choices on July 22 from 12:30-1:30PM
• The Food Game on July 28 from 1:30-3:30PM.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call 602 343-3164. Visit www.firstfoodbank.org and click on Hunger 101 for an in-depth look at the curriculum.

Here's a Bit of Skinny About Fat

Like the weather, everybody talks about fat, but unlike the weather, you can do something about it. Here are some useful bits of information on this important subject:

• fat is necessary for basic metabolism and disease prevention, but no more than 30% of daily caloric intake should be from fat


• unsaturated fats (e.g., olives, avocados, tuna) are best, but in moderation (see above); saturated fats (e.g., high-fat dairy products, fatty meats) should be limited; trans-fats should be avoided


• when reading food labels (and you should), keep in mind that each gram of fat is equal to 9 calories


• if you do cardio or resistance training at the gym, you have to keep at it for 30 minutes before you burn fat


• and finally, remember - "Liposuction is not a cure for obesity"

Children are at Risk 'Cause Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation

Summertime means vacations to many people, but for at-risk kids (and their parents) summertime is a time of anxiety and crisis. During the rest of the year, many of these kids participate in free or reduced-rate breakfast and lunch programs at school. But with schools closed, it is now up to the parents to feed their kids, often putting a strain on already tight budgets. Often, the parents turn to St. Mary's Food Bank for help; the demand for food this month is up over 120% from last year. You can help the Food Bank in its campaign to "Send Hunger Packing"; visit http://www.firstfoodbank.org/ to find out how.

Increase Your Knowledge, Attend a Hunger 101 Session

Increase your knowledge of hunger, poverty, and nutrition issues by attending a FREE Hunger 101AZ session in July. All sessions, most of which last less than 1 hour, are held in the Volunteer Center at our 31st Ave. location. Among the topics are: Impacts of Hunger (7/21), Label Me Nutritious (7/14), Advocacy & Action (7/15), The Food Game (7/28), Faces of Hunger (7/7), and Fast Foods: Healthy Choices (7/22). For more info, or to register, call 602-343-3164 or email rlcombe@firstfoodbank.org.

Falling Economy Spurs Increase in Free School Lunches

Echoing statistics locally, a report in USA Today shows that nearly 20 million children nation-wide now receive free or reduced-rate lunches in school. As a result, many school districts are having trouble coming up with funds to handle the rising costs, leading one Congressman to call for an increase in the federal subsidy in upcoming legislation.
For more information, visit: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/06/11/20090611schoollunch-usat.html

Get in the NUTRITION Game

Here's a great (and fun) way to teach your kids the benefits of good nutrition! The US Dept. of Agriculture has a website geared to kids, with games and puzzles showing the advantages of proper nutrition. Climb the (Food) Pyramid, play the "Blast Off" game, and learn about proper diet. There's loads of materials available for FREE! Just visit http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html and let the games begin.

All About Nutrition
Want information on Acid Reflux, or Lactose Intolerance? This site has info on that and more - diet info for men, organic shopping, and healthy dining out. Just go to http://nutrition.about.com/ and click on "Health Castle". Check out the other sites too.

The Importance of Volunteering
As I write this, a contingent of over 100 members of the Phoenix office of a national accounting firm are in our warehouse packing food boxes, and preparing info packets to be distributed at Food Bank events next week. Their help, and the help of other groups, big and small, as well as scores of individual volunteers, is crucial to the Food Bank in fulfilling its mission. We're grateful for their help; many groups find the experience so fulfilling they return three, four, or five times per year. If you or your group are interested in volunteering at any of our facilities, visit www.firstfoodbank.org.

What experiences have you had in volunteering?

If you're a non-profit that uses volunteers, what experiences have you had with them?

Nutrition Website Shows That "You Are What You Eat"

This is a site loaded with information on all things nutrition: foods that promote health, what food labels tell you, healthy ways to diet, and dietary supplements. They also offer a free newsletter.

All of this is available at http://www.nutritiondata.com/.

Health Advocacy Organization Provides Resource Information for the Hungry

WHEAT, a local hunger and health advocacy organization, has compiled a list of locations in Arizona where those in need can find:
Emergency Food Boxes
Baby Care Boxes
Location of Soup Kitchens
Food Co-op Boxes - purchase food at below supermarket prices
Home Meal Delivery
On-site Meals.

Go to http://www.hungerhurts.org/HungerLinks.asp

Hunger & Poverty in Arizona
The Association of Arizona Food Banks has released a study done by Feeding America on Child Food Insecurity in 26 states. It shows that for Arizona, 20.2% of children under 18 are food insecure (fifth highest among the states surveyed).

Also, according to the US Census Bureau's 2007 Community Survey:

14.2% or 881,257 Arizonans live in poverty;
20.2% or 330,910 are under the age of 18, meaning that in Arizona, 1 in 5 children live in poverty;
30.3% or nearly 1.9 million people in Arizona are considered to be the "working poor," meaning they live at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. This is defined as a gross annual income of less than $39,200 for a family of four.

For more info on this and other hunger and nutrition issues, visit http://www.azfoodbanks.org

Here's a short paragraph on the importance of local produce

The Arizona Partnership to End Childhood Hunger
http://endchildhungeraz.org

Farmer’s Markets - Access to Local Fresh Produce
For generations, the diverse geography of Arizona has allowed its farmers to cultivate an exciting variety of fruits and vegetables. Farmers’ Markets all over the state bring the best of these crops directly to you. Come and experience the vibrant colors, the smell of freshly harvested produce, the joyful sounds of an outdoor community market and the juicy taste of the season’s finest fruits and vegetables!
http://endchildhungeraz.org/access-to-produce/farmers-markets-access-to-local-fresh-produce/#more-887

I know that produce, both locally grown and from out-of-state, is important to our ability to fight hunger. What is your organization's experience in securing and distributing produce?