As part of our 45th anniversary celebration in 2012, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance looks back at some of the great testimonials and volunteer efforts of the past. Today we offer Arizona television legend Pat McMahon and his wife Duffy – longtime supports of St. Mary’s who took time out of a day volunteering during our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive to talk about delivering food and hope to so many in need.

“In the time I’ve been serving as a volunteer there, I’ve seen the increase in people needing help grow substantially,” Haub said. “As I assist these people who come in for food, hear their stories and how thankful they are that the food bank is there for not only themselves, but their children, I wanted to come up with something else I could do to help meet this growing hunger.

There are other projects where potters have used their skills to help raise funds for feeding hungry, needy people and thought perhaps I could use my hobby as a potter, involve other potters, to do the same sort of thing. I’ve had help in making these cups from the Fairway Ceramics Club in Sun City, John Beekman and Chris Easling, also Sun City potters.  Each of these cups are individually handmade by these people and myself.  I really appreciate the help and generosity each of these people have given me with this project.”

Come see the fruits of their labor, enjoy a cup of coffee in your new mug and help St. Mary’s Food Bank on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at the Third Place Grill (15814 N. 83rd Avenue in Peoria) from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Usually, these mugs start at about $16 – and with no coffee – so this will be a bargain hunter’s dream along with a chance to help your neighbors.

St. Mary’s would like to recognize CVS Caremark as the latest company to join the ranks of “Hunger Hero” status with Food Bank! This elite group of donors is comprised of companies that support St. Mary’s and the hungry of Arizona on three different levels – with donated food, volunteerism, and financial support.

CVS Caremark had a group of nearly 60 lawyers (yes, we did hear some lawyer jokes) at the Del E. Webb Distribution Center on Jan. 11th, bringing with them a check for $2,500 which will allow the Food Bank to distribute enough food for more than 17,000 meals. The company also regularly donates volunteer time by packing and sorting donated food for our emergency food boxes and also donates food from its stores as part of the Food Rescue Program.

Many of the CVS Caremark folks who donated time are from other areas of the country, and we’re hoping that they take the message of the need to help the hungry back to their hometowns and food banks. Thank you to everyone, and we hope to see you back again soon!

Here’s a deal that’s bound to rub you the right way! During the month of January, Cortiva Institute’s Scottsdale Massage Therapy Center has a great offer that will help both you and the hungry of Arizona. Bring in four (4) non-perishable food items for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and receive $10 off your massage with a licensed therapist!

Each session includes 10 minutes of interview as part of your booked time. Discounts may not be used in combination – one discount per treatment. No cash value.
Scottsdale Massage Therapy Center is located at 8010 E. McDowell Road (Suite 214) in Scottsdale. Book online mtc.scottsdale@cortiva.com or call 480-945-9461 for your appointment

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is proud to acknowledge Development Specialist Gloria Ortega, who has been accepted as a member of the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) Class for 2012 – a prestigious honor for both Gloria and for the Food Bank.
As a second generation Arizonan, Gloria has been involved in many community organizations and is looking forward to enhancing her leadership skills. Everyone at the Food Bank is truly proud of her and know she will be an excellent representative for St. Mary’s in the community.
Gloria has been with the Food Bank for nine years, overseeing the Monthly Giving Circle, the Matching Gifts Program and all tribute gifts to St. Mary’s.  Her gracious manner and attention to detail has been a true asset in strengthening our relationships with donors.
Congratulations Gloria … your St. Mary’s family is proud of you!

The Food Bank is still in need of more volunteers to keep up with the number of people who are asking the Food Bank to glean their trees this winter. The weather is fantastic and if you have a few hours, a day or a weekend – for yourself, a group, church or organization – gleaning is a great outdoor project with a great benefit to those in need. Just leave your contact information on our Citrus hotline at (602) 343-5658 and we’ll get right back with you. Gleaning season runs through March. Now is the time to help!

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to share a BIG THANKS with some Little donors.

Pre-schoolers at the Betty Fairfax School’s Kiddie Kollege in Laveen invited St. Mary’s Hunger 101 Program Manager Chet Provorse to chat with them about the issues of hunger and good nutrition. And the kids had a surprised for Provorse as well, gathering enough non-perishable food during an in-house drive to provide 275 meals for the one in four children across Arizona who may not have food to eat tonight.

Their desire to help and share is another reason to believe  Arizona’s future will be good hands, with kids who are learning that they can make a big difference. THANKS Kiddie Kollege Kids!

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance would like to thanks the players, spouses, volunteers and fans of the Sun City Grand Softball Team for helping hungry families in Surprise during it annual holiday benefit tournament at Field of Dreams ballpark in Sun City.

The four-day event included eight teams conprised of Sun City Grand Softball club members, and included a silent auction of items donated by local businesses as well as a concession stand with coffee, doughnuts, hot dogs and soft drinks for sale. Female members of the club served as coaches and not only collected player fees, they enforced “fines” made in fun and with the purposes of raising donations for both St. Mary’s and the Relay for Life event. Volunteers also donated their time to umpire, keep score, announce and groundskeep during the tournament.

The $3,000 donated to St. Mary’s will allow the Food Bank to distribute more than 20,000 meals to those in need in Sun City, Surprise and the westside. On behalf of your neighbors in need, thank you to the Sun City Grand Softball Club for including the Food Bank in this wonderful event.

VIDEO & FOX 10 Story here

Our thanks to FOX 10 and reporter Kristin Anderson for coming out to Sun City today to do a fun story about the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Gleaning Program. If you didn’t know how much fun this can be – or how many people you can help – you do now! Call our Citrus Hotline at 602-343-5658 if you can donate some time to the gleaning effort – or if you’d like to have your trees gleaned this winter and have the fruit go to a lot of people in need.

The annual Girl Scouts cookie sale is about to entice the world with Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Dulce de Leche, Thank U Berry Munch, and the newest flavor, Savannah Smiles. And through the Gift of Caring program, the scouts make sure that those in need also share in the great flavors of the season.

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is bringing back a tradition of its own this year, inviting all Valley scouts, brownies, leaders and parents to visit our Del E. Webb Distribution Center (2831 N. 31st Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to noon. Come join one of five different tours of the food bank, receive information on hunger in Arizona and tips on good nutrition from St. Mary’s Hunger 101 program and gain a better understanding of who benefits from this important Gift of Caring program.

Good luck on your cookie drive this year, and we hope to see you all on Jan. 28!