MILLIONS OF JOBS LIKELY WON'T RETURN

The economy is strengthening. But millions of jobs lost in the recession could be gone for good. And unlike in past recessions, jobs in the beleaguered manufacturing sector aren't the only ones likely lost forever.
Source: The Arizona Republic, Associated  Press, by Christopher S. Rugaber - May. 15, 2010s

Even as the economy strengthens, more Americans could face years out of work. Already, the percentage of the labor force unemployed for six months or longer is 4.3 percent. That's the highest rate on records dating to 1948.
Full Story: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/05/15/20100515biz-jobsgone0515.html

it's almost time to ...

http://firstfoodbank.org/sendhungerpacking.html

SUMMER BREAK is Coming Soon. ... FREE Hunger 101AZ Educational Presentations are ready

Kids are excited with Summer coming!
Parents, educators and community programs may be a bit nervous with Summer on the horizon as everyone looks for ways to cost-effectively provide kids of all ages with positive activities during these financially challenging times.

Once again in 2010, Hunger 101AZ of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is offering just such educational, interactive and positive opportunities through our FEED YOUR MIND educational series at NO CHARGE in the communities we serve or at some of our food bank facilities.
Yes, it’s time for new learning opportunities for children and adults alike.
Hunger 101AZ is offering an opportunity to introduce your students, your children, your employees children, or your congregation’s children to FREE interactive education and advocacy presentations as a way to open people’s eyes by sharing information on the issues of food insecurity, hunger, and nutrition with children, teens, and adults.
Hunger 101 AZ sessions can be provided at any locations that meets the needs of your young people, covering a wide range of topics such as:
• Changing the Faces of Hunger: Your Neighborhood, Community, State?
• FAST FOODS: Making Healthy Choices
• Advocacy & Action: For all Ages and Many Reasons
• Food Banks: Why? What? Who? Where? When? and What Else?
• Label Me Nutritious
• Impacts of Hunger: Health, Family, Education & More
Hunger 101AZ is ready to help you decide what topics you might want to offer to which age groups throughout the summer.
For more information or to schedule a session, contact: Chet Provorse, Education Programs Manager, 602 343-3169 or cdprovorse@firstfoodbank.org
http://www.hunger101az.org/

ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF 2010 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

at 30 Valley of the Sun sites

Once again food will be served in partnership with school, faith-baased and recreation Programs providing meals at more than 20 locations around the Valley.
The purpose of the program is to help ease demand summer food, particularly among children who take part in the free breakfast and lunch programs during the school year.
Meals will be made available free to all eligible children or those enrolled in the summer program 18 years of age and under within the approved geographical area without regard to sex, race, color, age, handicap or national origin.
For Details: http://firstfoodbank.org/kidscafe.html

Basic food for all should not be a PRIVILEGE. 
It's a Basic RIGHT!
www.firstfoodbank.org

THANKS Port of Subs!

RAISE Up Helps!

St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance THANKS Fit and Fabulous Mommy Club & Raise Up Inc for their support and generous donation to our recent DIAPER DUMP.

It's this continuous community support , that will help ensure that those who need diapers for a healthy life ... will have them!
http://www.firstfoodbank.org/

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA releases anti-fat tips70-point plan

aims to trim childhood obesity rates by 2030.

The plan recommends 70 specific steps that all levels of government, the private sector, schools, parents and others can take.
A good start for our kids and us, let's keep it going
Full Story & video: 
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/05/12/20100512whitehouse-obesity0512.html

MOE MILK (Hunger 101AZ Foodtabulous 4 superhero) always says "Dairy to be Different"

Just a healthy dairy thought . Drink 1% or Non-Fat Milk

ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER BY 2015

It's possible!  
Take time to consider The Food Research and Action Center's THE ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE PRESIDENT’S GOAL
Report & Strategy available at http://www.frac.org/pdf/endingchildhunger_2015paper.pdf

THANKS POORE BROTHERS-BOULDER CANYON Natural foods

 ... for your generous donation of 8,000+ lbs of chips to the Lift Up America, Arizona Hunger Campaign through St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance's recent chicken and chips distribution at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix to partner agencies serving those in need across Arizona.

And THANKS AGAIN for your staff team that volunteered at the event!

Poore Brothers:  http://www.foodservicedirect.com/index.cfm/manufacturer2373/Poore_Brothers.htm?gclid=CLjZj4PIzaECFQZZbQodXgpEng

$2-Billion DONATION TO NATION'S FOOD BANKS

Wal-Mart and its charitable foundation plan to give $250-million in cash and $1.75-billion worth of food over the next five years to fight hunger in the United States, the company announced today.
The commitment, called “Fighting Hunger Together,” is among the largest corporate commitments of food and other noncash gifts. It comes as food banks across the country are struggling to keep up with demand from people.
Full Story: http://philanthropy.com/article/Wal-Mart-Announces-Plan-to/65487/

"Toni Can Can" (Turkette Divas) are still perched ...

in the Arizona desert outside of St. Mary's waiting for your flight orders.

Just call Ray Combe at Buy-A-Bird 602-343-3164 to share a $15 donation for Toni and she will be quickly winging her way to you.
http://www.firstfoodbank.org/give.html

SNAP\Food Stamps SETS RECORD AT ALMOST 40 MILLION SERVED

Food stamps are the primary federal anti-hunger program, helping poor people buy food. Enrollment is highest during times of economic distress.
39.68 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, were enrolled for food stamps during February, an increase of 260,000 from January and research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving benefits yet."
Source: Reuters, by Charles Abbott, May 7, 2010
Full Story: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6465E220100507

Kurt Warner STILL SCORING in the Fight Against Hunger

Hunger 101AZ THANKS Arizona Cardinals Quarterback legend KURT WARNER for his support of the Lift Up America, Arizona Hunger Campaign Kick-Off recently with St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix
Find out how you can score too at: http://www.firstfoodbank.org/

PLEDGE WEIGHT LOSS TO "THE BIGGEST LOSER" TO HELP ST. MARY'S

For the second year in a row, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, NBC's The Biggest Loser, General Mills, Subway, 24 Hour Fitness and Feeding America are partnering on the "Pound For Pound Challenge", a program that encourages those around Arizona and across the co...untry to lose weight nationally to help provide hunger relief locally.
For every pound of weight participants pledge to lose locally, a pound of groceries will be delivered to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance.
To join the Challenge, people can visit www.PFPChallenge.com or www.BiggestLoser.com and enter their weight loss goals.
For every pound of weight participants pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to Feeding America - enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank.
Pledges will be accepted until June 30.

U.S, Adds 290,000 Jobs

Despite growing unease in the financial markets, the American economy is gathering steam, adding an unexpectedly large number of jobs last month.

The Labor Department’s monthly snapshot of the job market, released on Friday, showed that employers added 290,000 jobs in April, the largest gain in four years, and that they did so across a broad swath of industries. The United States has now added jobs for four straight months.

The unemployment rate, however, crept up to 9.9 percent from 9.7 percent in March, mostly because of a significant increase in the number of people who had previously given up deciding to look for work again
Yet in a sign that many people will not struggle to find a job even as the economy improves, the number of people who have been out of work for more than six months hit 6.7 million, nearly 46 percent of the unemployed.“The economic recovery and expansion is entrenched, sustained and sustainable,” Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics, said.
Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/08/business/economy/08jobs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

THANK YOU TYSON!

What more can be said, but THANK YOU Tyson!

Year after year standing strong and generous beside food banks like St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance across the nation working to end hunger in America.

FOOD VALUE CLUB -- Open to the Public

The FOOD VALUE CLUB helps families and individuals across Arizona stretch their grocery dollars.

Food Boxes include a menu of purchased canned and boxed food and frozen meat items in a variety of packages. You will also receive a Bonus Box of donated items with each purchase!
FOOD VALUE CLUB sites are open to the genral public across our state as anothe resource to meet the nutirtional and financial challenges of today's economicc situation.
More info at: http://www.firstfoodbank.org/fvc.html

GLENDALE TEENS RAISE FUNDS TO HELP FEED THE VALLEY'S HUNGRY

Hunger 101AZ THANKS to the Glendale Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission for it's compassionate and generous financial contribution of over $1,000 to support the St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance fight to end hunger in Arizona.

http://firstfoodbank.org/give.html

These teens proved once again that we can never under-estimate our children to help make all our future better.

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him...The people who give you their food give you their heart.”
--  Cesar Chavez  --

ARIZONA HUNGER FACT

19.2% of Arizona's children under 18 are food-insecure.  Sadly, that's the 5th highest rate in the United States

How can you help ensure that no  child in Arizona goes to bed hungry?

Check out http://firstfoodbank.org

THANKS FOR DUMPING ON US

The 2010 DIAPER DUMP load totals still being tallied as our communiities' caring generosity always reassures that the future will be better for all of us.  THANKS ONCE AGAIN!

More Food Bank info at www.firstfoodbank.org

ALERT: Childrens' Medication Recall: The List

The Recall &  Meds Recalled List  --  More Information On The Voluntary Recall, Plus The 14 Branded Medications available at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/fyi/main3359037.shtml