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In the dog days of summer, the thought of wintertime holidays can be a far-fetched thought for some, but not for the staff at Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) school district. The group, led by Superintendent Greg Donovan, jumped into the holiday spirit for a “Christmas in July” food drive to collect donations for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
“Often people give during the holidays, but forget that hunger is a year round problem,” said Donovan.
Donovan presented the idea of a summer food drive as a challenge to the staff after reading that community food banks have not been receiving adequate food donations during the summer months. He asked employees to donate non-perishable food items to assist those in need, making a bonus pact to personally match the donations with up to $100 worth of groceries. West-MEC staff stepped up to the challenge, collecting a total of 479 non-perishable food items to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
Food Drive Information available at:
http://www.firstfoodbank.org/fooddrive.html
It was another night of fun and community service as more than 150 volunteers packed the Del E. Webb Distribution Center for Tuesday’s Rock N. Box “Salute to the 70s” on Aug. 9.
Along with groups from Basha High School (Future Farmers of America) the US Airways Do Crew, WalMart, United Dairy of Arizona, Bank of America, Arizona Certified Fraud Examiners, Boys Team Charity and Safeway, we had a special guest in the house. Fox 10’s morning guy Cory McCloskey brought his daughter to the food bank as part of her community service work for her high school and they both got into the thick of things, sorting donated food and building emergency food boxes.
The music was thumping (heard me enough Bee Gees to last the rest of the year) and when the night was done, 1,500 emergency boxes were built and 35,000 pounds of food was sorted for distribution. The public volunteers with St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance to the tune of more than 300,00 hours a year, and there is no way we could distribute 275,000 meals a day without YOU.
To volunteer, visit http://www.firstfoodbank.org/volunteer.html
Four schools from last already signed up for 2011 repeat success
As the 2011-12 school year begins, new and exciting events are being planned by students, teachers and staff alike across the Valley of the Sun – many in the name of fighting hunger side by side with the world’s first food bank.
Last year, a record 32 Arizona high schools took ...up the challenge of helping feed those in need in our state. When all was sai...d and done, enough food and cash donations were collected to distribute over 145,000 meals into the communities across Arizona.
The 2011 National Student Food Drive will kick off September 27th with the food drive competition ending November 4th. We're seeking high schools to join us. Now’s the time for students & educators to make a difference by responding to this critically important need.
It is time to walk the talk as schools across the Valley commit and compete in the 2011 National Student Food Drive.
For additional details or to join the NSFD, contact St. Mary’s Food Drive Manager Chet Provorse at (602) 343-3169 or by email at cdprovorse@firstfoodbank.org
TO ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE DURING 2011 SUMMER CASH DRIVE
Pro’s Ranch Market at 59th Avenue and Thomas Wins “The Battle of the Stores,” Collecting More Than $2,200 For St. Mary’s at its Cash Registers
Phoenix, AZ – Leading the way in the goal to “Send Hunger Packing” this summer, the six Valley Pro Ranch Markets collected a total of $7,833 in customer donations during July to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
The donations will allow St. Mary’s to purchase enough food to distribute nearly 55,000 meals to the one in five Arizonans – and one in four children – who live at or below the poverty line and do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Customers made donations to St. Mary’s at all checkout stands during the month of July. Donations of $20 or more (140 meals) qualified shoppers for a drawing to win $100 Pro’s Ranch Market Gift cards to help stretch their food dollars as well.
“This is what it means to be a part of the community; giving back. We are pleased to help in any way we can,” said Mike Provenzano, owner of Pro’s Ranch Markets. “In these tough economic times it’s important to give customers an opportunity to come forward and helping our neighbors in the community in their times of need.”
Ways you can donate also: www.firstfoodbank.org
WEST VALLEY Job Fair
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Phoenix Workforce Connection, 3406 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85031
There will be Job Fair Readiness Workshops. Bring an updated Resume & Dress to Impress
