St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance President and CEO Terry Shannon was named a Director of the Year during an awards luncheon on March 20 by ONE, the Organization of Non-Profit Executives. Shannon was awarded the Community Partnership Award in recognition of collaboration between the Food Bank, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services to build a Community Services Campus at the 31st Avenue location.
Opened officially in October 2008, the center was a direct result of close collaboration, led by Shannon, between the three agencies. Now the Community Service Campus offers a federally-directed supplemental nutrition program, WIC, which provides preventive health services and education to women, infants and children most in need, in a new, cheerful, well-designed building that is safe and convenient to the population it serves.
Through a broad network of local partners including the Food Bank, the county and the state, critical services such as breastfeeding support, supplemental meals, emergency food boxes, nutrition and education are available to aid families seeking to get back on their feet and raise healthy children.
“I believe it is a great partnership because both of our organizations, while delivering different products, are working to lift up our community and help those who are having a tough time,” Mr. Shannon said in a letter to Food Bank staff. “Together we deliver ‘hope,’”
The group, a fairly new one in the Sun Cities area, sponsored a spaghetti dinner in honor of all veterans. More than 350 people attended a fun-filled night and were entertained by a local group, “The Encores,” who practice at the resort three days a week. They also raised $1000 for a worthy cause.
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