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.