brought to you by Kara Ritter, Communications Specialist, St. Mary’s Food Bank

Arizona Food Banks are in “A Crisis”
ABC Channel 15 reported 9/29/08
by Nicole Beyer

http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=C62C634E-41A5-4AE9-8FB6-6E26D0B2B740&gsa=true

Thank you to Reporter Nicole Beyer and Cameraman Jeff Cochran for their time, effort and commitment to interviewing St. Mary’s Food Bank CEO and President Terry Shannon and report on balanced urgent community issues.

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Food Bank Reports 100 Percent Increase in Requests
KTAR Reported 9/30/08
by Jon Zimney
http://www.ktar.com/index.php?sid=966745&nid=6

Thank you to FM News/Talk 92.3 KTAR News Director Jon Zimney for taking the time to listen and understand the issues facing the community and delivering them to KTAR’s audience. Zimney’s compassion goes a long way on these issues, and many many others.

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Early this morning at 8 a.m. Flagstaff’s St. Mary’s General Manager Eric Wolverton was interviewed on Arizona Public Radio KNAU to discuss the increase need from the working poor for emergency food boxes. Thank you KNAU!

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NBC’s Telemundo’s Patricia Batres along with Cameraman Jose Castillo and WunderIntern Jesus Ledezma joined us this morning to interview St. Mary’s Food Resourcing Queen Hortencia Garcia to understand and translate the issue into Spanish for our community. Patricia took extra time and exquisite detail to interview agencies and clients to understand and produce this issue. This, despite a very hot warehouse…She even called herself St. Mary’s Interview Queen! Look for Telemundo’s piece 5 p.m. tonight and tomorrow morning between 7 and 8 a.m.

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Finally, our CEO and President Terry Shannon will be a guest on AZTV’s Pat McMahon Show tomorrow at 9 a.m. Laura Holka is making this segment happen with Pat McMahon, and being a Valley legend, we couldn’t be happier for a personality like him to help talk about such a pressing issue. Thanks Laura & Pat! Tune in tomorrow at 9 a.m.!

Journalists have a choice in what they cover every day. We thank the distinguished reporters, producers, cameramen, writers and staff who make stories and coverage happen.

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!

News Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic/John Faherty
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/09/29/20080929ToughTimes.html

brought to you by Kara Ritter, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Communications Specialist

Many are wondering…is it just the working poor who need help? Not surprisingly, the answer is no.

With the ecomony like it is, many working-class Americans who have stretched their needs from paycheck to paycheck have felt the devestation. The emergency food boxes provided by St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and other food banks in the Valley are helping meet this need–but–at the rate the demand is requiring, without donations, we will have to turn people away.

That means people turning away couples, children with mothers and the elderly like I saw today in the lines to get boxes. People who held babies. People hiding from abusive ex-husbands. People too embarrased to tell their stories for an upcoming story on ABC 15 to talk about the state of our economy.

For those of you wondering about the status of St. Mary’s Food Bank, here is our update to report.

-St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance reports certain agencies we distribute to such as Phoenix Rescue Mission and Community Economic Development Alliance has seen a more than 100 percent increase in requests for Emergency Food Boxes.

-We do not expect the increased demand trend to slow down anytime soon. The holidays are always challenging for those on fixed income and the working poor…. This holiday season is going to be significantly more difficult if current trends continue.

-St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance works with more than 700 agency locations in the Valley that rely upon the organization for emergency food supplies. The recent trend in demand to our Emergency Food Box program has increased more than 35 percent.

-So far, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance has not turned anyone away without food but will only be able to maintain our distribution if donations are received.

-Currently, St. Mary’s Food Bank has offered support to St. Vincent DePaul to assist their emergency food box needs and is awaiting a response.

     To help this need, the public can make donations year-round at any U-Haul or Goodwill store location or make a monetary donation using St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance’s Web site at www.FirstFoodBank.org. For those interested in food drive opportunities or to volunteer, call (602) 242-FOOD.

Brought to you by:  Cynde C.

Last week I attended a meeting to start planning for this year’s Operation Santa Claus and there are a lot of exciting things in store.

If you don’t know about Operation Santa Claus, it is a donation drive/event organized by Sanderson Ford in Glendale. In its eighth year, this event encourages the community to donate food and toys to brighten up the lives of those who are less fortunate. St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is very lucky to be one of the organizations that benefits from this drive.

To spread the word across the Valley, Sanderson has brought on media partners ABC Channel 15 and Bonneville Radio (92.3 KTAR and 98.7 The Peak). Tim and Willy – troubadours and local personalities – will once again be involved in spreading awareness of the drive. In fact, one of their favorite charities, The Neighborhood Center, is also a beneficiary, along with West Valley Child Crisis Center and SARRC.

This year, Operation Santa Claus kicks off on November 20 and ends on December 20. Look for collection events at Westgate City Center, Snow Day at Desert Ridge, and at the KTAR Christmas Carol Live Performance.

The best part – okay, outside of providing food to those in need – participants who donate food at any of the Sanderson Ford locations can enter to win a 2009 Ford Flex.

The holidays are already looking a little brighter!