Cupboards are Bare for Arizona's Food Banks

The year 2009 has been harder than ever for many people. In fact, 16 percent of Arizona's population now lives in poverty, according to a new Census report. The challenged economy has led to job and personal losses for hard working people. Faced with high demand, but with donations down, food banks statewide are in dire need. If you are in the position to help, we are showcasing five agencies that need assistance.

Salvation Army Chandler Corps Food Bank
A food shortage has left shelves bare at the Salvation Army Chandler Corps' food bank. Demand for food has increased greatly over the last year, and donations have not kept pace, according to the nonprofit. Without donations, services to the needy could be cut back, the group has warned.

For the first time, the Chandler Corps Food Bank had to close one day a week due to a shortage of food. "Right now, we have to take each day at a time," said Captain Jason Koenig, of the Chandler Corps Salvation Army Food Bank.

The Chandler branch, located on the east side of Arizona Avenue between Frye and Pecos roads, serves residents of Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Sun Lakes, and Queen Creek.

"People would still give saying that I'm giving today because next month I may need your help," said Koenig. People who have never had to ask for help before, including double income-earning parents, are seeking aid. "We've had some cases where in the same day, they worked two different places and they were both let go."

Thirty new families each day rely on food boxes there. What's heartbreaking, Koenig says, is turning them away.

Donations can be brought to the Salvation Army Chandler Corps food bank. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Salvation Army can provide collection containers for office, church, school, or group food drives.

Salvation Army Chandler Corps
85 E. Saragosa St.
Chandler, AZ 85224
www.tsasw.org/chandler
480-963-2041

St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance
The St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance services food banks in Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise and Flagstaff, serving 13 of Arizona's 15 counties.

Keeping pace with the incredible upturn in need that has followed the poor economic climate and the huge rise in unemployment and underemployment, the Food Bank distributes more than 65 million pounds of food annually to meet the needs of the ever-rising number of Arizona's hungry, providing enough food into the community to provide nearly 300,000 meals per day.

Senior citizens and families with children comprise the majority of the clients served by the Food Bank. By partnering with 534 Arizona agencies, the Food Bank is able to distribute food to 700 sites.

The community can support the Food Bank through donations of time, money or food. Contributions are used efficiently and wisely: every dollar donated provides enough for seven meals. Combining donated financial support and the value of donated food, 96 cents of every dollar goes directly to program support.

On-line monetary donations can be made via the food bank's website (www.firstfoodbank.org). To make a donation by check or money order, simply mail to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, Attn: Development - W, 2831 N. 31st Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85009. If you wish to host a food drive, please call the Food Drive Hotline: 602- 343-3173.

St. Mary's Food Bank
2831 N. 31st Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
www.firstfoodbank.org
602-242-FOOD

Phoenix Rescue Mission
Forty percent of homeless people in the Phoenix metro area are now women and children. That startling statistic comes from Phoenix Rescue Mission, which offers three meals daily, a 24-hour walk in center, showers and clean clothing, up to 150 emergency shelter beds nightly, a 21-bed Residential Addiction Recovery Program, a Career Education Center, Chapel services, and other services for those in need.

Phoenix Rescue Mission is currently building the Changing Lives Center, which will house 200 women and children who have no where else to turn. Financial donations are still needed to complete the construction of this shelter and can be made online via the agency's website.

Another important part of the agency's outreach is its support of those on fixed incomes and the working poor. Ongoing needs for food donations at the Phoenix Rescue Mission for food boxes include canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna or salmon, soup, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, rice, dry beans and cereal. While the Rescue Mission receives both meat and dairy items from the food bank, there's a continuing need for more. Phoenix Rescue Mission can always use more hamburger meat, chicken, eggs, milk and lunch meats.

Phoenix Rescue Mission
1801 S. 35th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009
www.phoenixrescuemission.org
602-233-3000

Tucson Community Food Bank
The Community Food Bank in Tucson is a busy place, but it too needs donations to support the tremendous increase it has seen. The agency provides enough food for 48,000 meals every day, and serves more than 160,000 people every year with food boxes. Unfortunately, this year food drives for the Community Food Bank are down almost 70 percent.

"The Community Food Bank can always use volunteers, especially now," said Jack Paris, media relations manager of the Community Food Bank. The volunteers can help prepare the 15,000 food boxes that are prepared each month. In November and December each food box will also contain a 5 pound ham in addition to the regular offerings. "If money becomes available, additional holiday items will be added to the boxes," said Paris.

Those wishing to make on-line donations may do so on the agency's website (www.communityfoodbank.org). The agency also encourages interested people to host food drives and fundraisers for the agency. For every one dollar donated, the agency can distribute almost nine dollars worth of food, according to the food bank, which supplies pantries all over Tucson and southern Arizona.

The Community Food Bank, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity, relies on 78 employees and hundreds of community volunteers to ensure that the people of Southern Arizona have access to the food and programs they need. The food bank has recently expanded its service area to include Cochise, Graham, Greenlee and Santa Cruz counties.

Community Food Bank
3003 S Country Club Rd
Tucson, AZ 85713-408
www.communityfoodbank.com
(520) 622-0525