Oil Spill Forces Fishermen to Collect SNAP/Food Stamps

About 32,000 Vietnamesse live along the Gulf of Mexico and rely on fishing for their livelihoods. However, the BP oil spill has forced many to apply for SNAP/Food Stamps, since a ban on fishing has closed more than a third of the Gulf's fishing waters. "Tell [BP] to hurry up and stop the spill so we can get back to work," said fisherman and recent SNAP/Food Stamp applicant Kin Van Nguyen through an interpreter.
Full Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/16/eveningnews/main6589515.shtml

The SLUMP HAS HIT!

The longer than anticpated recession has directly hit more than half of the nation's working adults, pushing them into unemployment, pay cuts, reduced hours at work or part-time jobs, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

The economic shock has jolted many Americans into a new, more austere reality, which is likely to have lasting consequences for an economy fueled mostly by consumer spending. More than six in 10 Americans say they have cut down on borrowing and spending.

Full Story: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/30/20100630poll-unemployment0630.html






Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/30/20100630poll-unemployment0630.html#ixzz0sLtyPQid

'Walk a mile in my shoes':

Long-term unemployed ask 'What will happen to us?' 

Never since the Great Depression have so many unemployed been out of work for so long.

Never have so many applied for so few jobs.

Never have so many asked: What will happen to us?

Nationally, the proportion of people jobless for six months or more now makes up 46 percent of the unemployed. That’s the highest percentage on record, dating to 1948.

As the jobless lose or exhaust their 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, they face challenges unlike anything they ever imagined.

Full Story:  http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/jun/13/walk-mile-my-shoes-long-term-unemployed-ask-what-w/

Arizona’s “Food Stamp” Rolls Hit One Million for First Time

More than 1,000,000 Arizonans are now using what used to be known as "food stamps" to purchase groceries for their families.
Katie Kahle, program manager for the Arizona Community Action Association says enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has risen steadily for the past three years.

Full Story: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/14509-1

ARIZONA HUNGER CAMPAIGN COLLECTS 210,000+ POUNDS

FATHER’S DAY DRIVE COLLECTS FOOD FOR ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE
Christ Church of the Valley, Scottsdale Bible and New Life Community Congregations Combine to Help Stock Summer Emergency Food Boxes

With food supplies dwindling and donations sagging, the Arizona Hunger Campaign’s first Father’s Day Food Drive could not have come at a better time – contributing more than 210,000 pounds of food to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance through the generous donations of three Valley church congregations.
The food collected June 20 at Christ Church of the Valley and New Life Community Church in Peoria and at Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale will help fill the more than 30,000 Emergency Food Boxes St. Mary’s Food Bank will distribute each month this summer to meet the rising demand.
In addition to the food and bottled water collected, more than $11,000 in cash was donated by Scottsdale Bible Church members. Every dollar received enables St. Mary’s Food Bank to deliver enough food for seven meals, meaning the cash will provide an additional 77,000 pounds and push the final totals of the food drive near the 300,000-pound mark.
Food Drive Info: http://firstfoodbank.org/fooddrive.html

FRY’S FOOD STORES, THUNDERBIRDS “SEND HUNGER PACKING”

 ... WITH HUGE DAY AT ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance wishes to thank Fry’s Food Stores for a tremendous morning highlighted by donations of food, cash and volunteer hours during Friday’s visit to our Del E. Webb Distribution Center.

Fry’s Food contributed $50,000, commemorating Fry’s 50th anniversary in 2010.  Fry’s friends from Kellogg’s donated a tractor truckload of cereals, snacks and other products.  And more than two dozen Fry’s volunteers were on hand as well to build hundreds of food boxes that will be in the homes of Arizona’s hungry in the next few days.

To Fry’s Food Stores and the Thunderbirds, St. Mary’s is humbled by your outpouring of support and encouraged to know our incredible corporate partners understand what must be done for those struggling in our state.

nearly 32,000 and the need keeps growing

MORE Info on  WAYS TO HELP

http://firstfoodbank.org/give.html

It's time to put the squeeze on food insecurity and ...

Details on how to help Send HUNGER Packing http://firstfoodbank.org/sendhungerpacking.html

Help St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance SEND HUNGER PACKING ...

15 Tons... and what do you get?

CODY MITCHELL (Glendale, AZ) is one of St. Mary's young Hunger fighters who continues to share his heartfelt message to end hunger in Arizona with any who will listen and help kids and adults needing food.
Full Story: http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2010/06/15/20100615glendale-boy-video-chicken-food-bank.html

FOOD INSECURITY in Food Secure Households

A recent University of Missouri (MU) study found that children can still experience food insecurity even in food secure households and despite food assistance programs. The researchers examined, among other factors, racial comparisons among vulnerable households, SNAP/Food Stamp participation, and informal food assistance
Full Story:  http://www.healthcanal.com/child-health/8077-Despite-Food-Assistance-Programs-Many-Children-Experience-Food-Insecurity-Hunger.html?printassistance.

“SEND HUNGER PACKING“

with ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE ROCK N’ BOX NIGHTS

Event Schedule &  Details http://www.firstfoodbank.org/events.html

ARIZONA EMERGENCY FOOD RESOURCES

Maps & Eligibility Guidelines shared by Arizona Partnership to End Childhood Hunger
DEtails at:  http://endchildhungeraz.org/emergency-food

WELLS FARGO STATEWIDE FOOD DRIVE: JULY 15-31

Please mark your calendar to drop off non-perishable food donations at any Arizona Wells Fargo branch  Branch Locations at:
http://www.bank-locations.com/wellsfargo_locations/AZ.html

TON-O-TUNA came our way

NORTH SCOTTDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REELS IN MORE THAN 1,100 POUNDS OF TUNA FOR ST. MARY’S

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thank the North Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce for their continued support in the fight against hunger in Arizona.
On Saturday, June 12, the NSCC board came to the Del E. Webb Distribution Center with more than 1,100 pounds of tuna collected during their “Ton of Tuna” Food Drive for St. Mary’s.
The Chamber then rolled up their sleeves and packed hundreds of Emergency Food Boxes themselves, adding volunteerism to their generous food donation.
Thanks NSCC for your efforts and assistance with our goal of ending hunger in Arizona.
http://www.firstfoodbank.org/

In case someone asks ...