AAFB EXPANDS ADVOCACY COVERAGE

As bills are being heard in the state legislature at the present moment, our elected officials need to hear your voice in support of Arizonans struggling with hunger and poverty, and the programs that serve them.
We’ve weighed in on bills that affect food banks and those they serve on our updated AAFB Advocacy Page, which features information on both state and national issues.
Breaking news can always be found on the AAFB Facebook page.
Make your voice be heard by speaking up to your legislators and subscribing to our email advocacy updates by sending an email with "subscribe to AAFB Advocacy Team" in the subject line

Meeting the Need in Challenging Times

SAVE THE DATE -- REGISTER  ----   Meeting the Need in Challenging Times:
The Arizona Food Bank Network Conference
When: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration opens at 7:30 a.m.)
Where: Vineyard Church North Phoenix in Glendale, Arizona
Continental Breakfast & Lunch Provided - No Registration Fee
RSVP to Brian Simpson at 602-528-3434 or brian@azfoodbanks.org
Details at: http://www.azfoodbanks.org/index.php/conference

Statistics on what happens to kids in child-welfare system grim
Full Story at:  http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2012/02/25/20120225child-welfare-system-statistics-grim.html

Arizona program cuts put strain on families

Over the past four years, Arizona lawmakers faced with huge budget deficits have balanced the state's budget in part by cutting more than $300 million from programs that help struggling families before they reach the point where they abandon, abuse or neglect their children. Studies show many of the programs cut since 2008 work to improve parenting, strengthen families and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, often by helping parents to provide safe, nurturing, stable homes.

For many families, help paying for food and utilities or finding substance-abuse treatment can provide the stability they need to stay afloat. But families in severe cases, such as Fulbright's, need a myriad of services -- like job training, housing and child care -- to become self-sufficient. The loss of a job and a late custody payment started Fulbright on a downward spiral, a situation many families that live paycheck to paycheck face.

Full Story at: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/26/20120226cps-arizona-cuts-strain-families.html



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/26/20120226cps-arizona-cuts-strain-families.html#ixzz1nbE8Cyj8

More than Food, Money & Time

We share this video with our sincerest THANKS for each of you who help fight hunger in your community wherever and whenever you can. Know that you share much more than food, money and time... you share HOPE!

Video of Hope at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn7Lrm_HM3w

Social media usage makes teens AWARE

Recent reserach has shown that social media usage makes teens more aware of others' needs.

About 55 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 said Facebook and Twitter have opened their eyes to what others are experiencing, according to an online study conducted by Harris Interactive And 91 percent felt it was important to volunteer in the community.
Moreways to serve your community:  www.firstfoodbank.org

Boy Scouts Donate Nearly 12,000 Pounds of Food To St. Mary’s

 ... during 2012 Scouting for Food Drive

More than doubling their total from last year, the Phoenix and Westside Boy Scouts taking part in the 2012 “Scouting for Food” Food Drive had a successful day on Feb. 5. With more food coming in from other packs this week, St. Mary’s has already received 11,779 pounds of non-perishable food items for the hungry of Arizona.
Scouting for Food will collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of food across the country as a result of this drive to benefit the hungry of America. St. Mary’s salutes the work of not only Boy Scouts of America Grand Canyon Council but their leaders and parents and thanks them for their annual efforts to make a difference in the community.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN GRADUATES WITH 93 PERCENT PLACEMENT RATE

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to congratulate the latest two graduating classes of our incredibly successful Community Kitchen program. These graduates received their chef’s coats on Saturday, Feb. 4, marching down the aisle to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” with friends, family and members of St. Mary’s staff and its Board of Directors looking on with pride.

More than 90 percent of the this class has already found steady employment within the foodservice industry, speaking to both the incredible reputation of Community Kitchen graduates within the Valley and the hard-work these students put in to prepare themselves for the next, more positive and productive, chapters in their lives.

To all the members of the Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 Classes, we wish you all the best moving forward.