by | May 21, 2012

All Saints’ Episcopal Church and Day School Holds “Pennies for Peanut Butter” Event as Part of “Kids Helping Kids” Food Drive

 

 

The staff and students at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and Day School are annually responsible for one of the largest elementary school food drives in the state around the holiday season to benefit the Food. And when St. Mary’s asked for an extra hand this spring through the “Kids Helping Kids” Food Drive, All Saints’ was one of the first schools to respond – this time with a “Pennies for Peanut Butter” drive to make sure kids will have food during the long hot summer.

Students from the fifth, sixth and seventh grades took part in a friendly competition among home rooms to see which class could collect the most pennies during that drive. And when the final penny was counted, tens of thousands of Arizona children will be fed thanks to the generosity of the students, parents and faculty.

On behalf of those in need, thank you, All Saints’ Episcopal Church for supporting St. Mary’s efforts this summer. 

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by | May 17, 2012

Valley Yard House Employees “ROUND UP” 105,000 Meals to St. Mary’s Holiday Efforts

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thank the employees of the three Arizona Yard House locations who joined together to raise $10,000 for the hungry of Arizona during their recent “Round It Up” campaign.

During “Round It Up,” customers are provided an opportunity to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar amount. While the individual donations may be nominal, their collective sum is powerful, as proven by the 70,000 meals it will allow the Food Bank to distribute into our community. Over the past two years, Yard House employees have collected enough to provide 175,000 meals for the hungry of Arizona.

Food Bank Development Officer Christina Calio accepted from Yardhouse employees on behalf of all those who donated. Thank you Yard House – and everyone who took advantage of the chance to “Round It Up!”

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by | May 15, 2012

Last Chance to Help Feed Arizona’s Hungry and Save on General Admission at Big Surf Water Park – Military Members Get in FREE on Saturday May 19

This is the LAST weekend you can save BIG at Big Surf Waterpark help fill the shelves at St. Mary’s Food Bank at the same time.

More than 6,000 pounds of food has been collected for the food bank over the last two weekends, providing thousands of meals to Arizona’s hungry.

This Saturday, Big Surf Waterpark will honor all active and retired military members with free admission on Armed Forces Day (May 19) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Everyone else attending that day can receive 50% off of general admission when each donates three non-perishable food items to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance’s on-site collection boxes. General admission prices are normally $26.95, plus tax.

Military, VA, VFW or American Legion ID will need to be provided at ticket windows to receive this special, free offer.  In addition to Armed Forces Day, active and retired service men and women can enjoy the discounted admission price of $19.95 to Big Surf all season long.

It’s going to be a HOT one this weekend. Cool off, have a blast at Big Surf Waterpark and help your community at the same time!

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by | May 11, 2012

Last Reminder to Clean Out Your Pantry and Help Stamp Out Hunger TOMORROW!!!!

Summer is almost here and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance needs your help. Each summer, demand for our services increase while donations fall as folks leave town for cooler weather. And our supplies are ALREADY down almost 30 percent compared to last year.

Now is a great time to help! The National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” Food drive is TOMORROW, May 12th. All you have to do is leave a bag of food near the mailbox on Saturday morning and the letter carriers will do the rest. Do you have 6-7 cans in your pantry you can spare? How about a box of cereal or pasta? A jar or two of peanut butter?

This is a great time to clean out your pantry of unwanted items and help fill emergency food boxes for someone who can REALLY use it. The letter carriers will drop reminder cards and bags in your mailbox this week. You can help families in need without leaving your driveway. Please help by making your donation on SATURDAY, May 12.

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by | May 10, 2012

St. Mary’s Food Bank is Stuck on the Roof … Happily … with Chuck

VIDEO

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thank Peoria Nissan General Manager Chuck Morris for inviting Director of Public Relations Jerry Brown over to spend a few minutes talking about our mission and – most importantly – this weekend’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Remember, THIS SATURDAY … May 12. There is a Food Drive going on at YOUR mailbox. Please leave a donation for your letter carrier!

Chuck is staying on the roof until Peoria Nissan sells 150 cars. Stop by 9151 West Bell Road, say hello and see if you can help him get off the roof.

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by | May 10, 2012

Zuni Hills Elementary and Middle School – Helping “Feed Kids”

The Zuni Hills Elementary and Middle School PROJECT IDEAL group hosted a school assembly  to kick-off  for the Grizzlies participation in the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance 2012 Kids Feeding Kids Food Drive. Food Drive Manager Chet Provorse was very impressed with their interest and energized efforts to help  other kids deal with the challenges of hunger during the summer break as  Zuni Hills’ students learned that Hunger doesn’t take a vacation as it impacts 1 in 4 children across Arizona throughout the summer.

Special thanks to Madison Westerman for acting as emcee and all her help coordinating the event –  to Wyatt Westerman for taking the photos!

There is just two days left to get your school involved in the spring “Kids Feeding Kids” Food Drive. Many schools are already registered to participate in the drive, which runs now through May 18th. There’s time for your teachers and staff  to empower your students to help feed kids in their community throughout the summer break. Call Chet Provorse at (602) 343-3169 or email him at cdprovorse@firstfoodbank.org and help feed kids in need this summer.

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by | May 10, 2012

New Papa Murphy’s Pizza in Glendale Raises 3,276 Meals During Opening

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thank Larry Bauman and his crew at the new Papa Murphy’s Pizza location at 58th Avenue and Thunderbird Road for making the Food Bank and fighting hunger part of his grand opening celebration last weekend. St. Mary’s representative Christina Calio joined Bauman and Glendale Vice Mayor Stephen Frate  for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 4. Then it was time to sell some pizzas!

Larry was kind enough to donate a portion of his profits from the entire weekend to fight hunger in Glendale, and combined with donations from customers for those three days, enough money to distribute 3,276 meals was raised.

Thank you Larry and thank you Papa Murphy’s. And if you’re looking for a delicious dinner on your way home tonight, stop in and support a business that is giving back to you community.

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by | May 9, 2012

Remember Mom and the Lessons She Taught You About Helping Others

Mother’s Day Donation

Flowers? Brunch? A walk in the park? What’s your Mother’s Day ritual?

This year, you can add new meaning to the holiday — and put an extra smile on a mother’s face — by making a gift in her name to help families who will be struggling with hunger next Sunday. Honor your mother, grandmother, wife, aunt or another woman you love with a gift in her name to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.

For millions of mothers across Arizona, their biggest worry isn’t their own hunger. It’s being unable to feed their children, or having to choose between rent, medicine and groceries. Our Tribute program is a simple, effective way to bring hope to families in communities like yours.  Every dollar donated helps provide 7 meals for families in need.

Make a donation in your mother’s honor and St. Mary’s will  send her a personalized card letting her know the difference she’s helped to make. Your gift today helps ensure that we continue to reach the families that depend on our services, all year long. The same can be made in memory of a loved one or in honor of that special graduate.

Do not wait…Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13th. For more information, please contact Gloria Ortega at (602) 343-3153.

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by | May 8, 2012

Big Surf Waterpark Collects 2,000 Pounds of Food for St. Mary’s on Opening Weekend

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thank our friends at Big Surf Waterpark helping to feed the hungry of Arizona with their great deal that allows you to enjoy their great facility for HALF PRICE for the first three weekends of the season.

Hundreds of people took advantage of the deal on their opening weekend and donated 2,000 pounds of food! A reminder: the 50 % off admission deal – with a donation of three non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s – will continue this weekend!

Each guest must bring in at least three non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance to receive the 50% off discounted general admission.  This promotion continues on Saturday, May 12th; Sunday, May 13th; Saturday, May 19th; and Sunday, May 20th.

Additionally, on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13th, all moms get in FREE when at least three non-perishable food items are donated. Everyone else in the group will receive 50% off general admission by each bringing in at least three items as well.  

Big Surf Waterpark is only open on Saturdays and Sundays now through May 20th.  The Waterpark is then open every single day from Friday, May 25th through August 6th.  Then it’s back to a Saturday and Sunday only schedule from August 11th through September 16th, when the 2012 season concludes.  The park will be open on Labor Day, Monday, September 3rd as well.

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by | May 7, 2012

Clean Out Your Pantry and Help Stamp Out Hunger!!!!

Summer is almost here and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance needs your help. Each summer, demand for our services increase while donations fall as folks leave town for cooler weather. And our supplies are ALREADY down almost 30 percent compared to last year.

Now is a great time to help! The National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” Food drive is THIS SATURDAY, May 12th. All you have to do is leave a bag of food near the mailbox on Saturday morning and the letter carriers will do the rest. Do you have 6-7 cans in your pantry you can spare? How about a box of cereal or pasta? A jar or two of peanut butter?

This is a great time to clean out your pantry of unwanted items and help fill emergency food boxes for someone who can REALLY use it. The letter carriers will drop reminder cards and bags in your mailbox this week. You can help families in need without leaving your driveway. Please help by making your donation on SATURDAY, May 12.

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