A good use for those used backpacks

United Food Bank is asking kids to donate gently used backpacks to help kids in need.

From now until the end of June, children who donate their backpacks will receive a free ice cream and a special certificate recognizing their good deed. The backpack drop-off location is from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday at United Food Bank, 245 S. Nina Drive in Mesa.

The Backpack Program gets nutritious food to kids who are at risk of going hungry over the weekend by sending them home from school each Friday with a backpack full of food. This program is extremely important for children who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school but have little to no access to food over the weekend.

United Food Bank provides more than 500 backpacks every single week during the school year; many rip, get lost and need to be replaced.

“It may be hard to imagine this, but one in four children in Arizona do not know where their next meal is coming from,” said Lisa Goin, United Food Bank’s Chief Development Officer, in a press release. “We hear from parents who thank us for this food, saying that without this program, their child would literally just be eating the free lunch provided at school. It’s an unfortunate reality for so many people that there isn’t a single morsel of food in the house.”

For more information about donating a backpack or joining the Kids Lunch Bunch, visit unitedfoodbank.org or call 480-926-4897 ext. 207.

Holiday giving: Lee Lee International hosting food drive

Image via Wikipedia

Lee Lee International Supermarket is hosting a holiday food drive at all three Arizona locations through Nov. 22.

Items can be dropped off in designated bins from  9am-9pm  at:

• 7575 W. Cactus Rd., Peoria
• 2025 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler
• 1990 W. Orange Grove Rd., Tucson

Donations from the Peoria and Chandler locations will go to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix, which is most in need of beans (canned or dried), canned fruit and vegetables, canned soups, stews, chili and pasta, cereal, diapers, juice, peanut butter, rice and tuna (canned or vacuum packed).

For the Tucson location, donations will go to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Community Food Bank’s most needed items include canned goods such as meats, vegetables, soups, fruit and tomato products, as well as cereal, peanut butter, condiments, and meal mixes. Glass containers cannot be accepted by either food bank. 

The Food Action and Research Center reported that nearly 30 percent of Arizona households recounted at least one time in the previous year they didn’t have enough money to buy food.

“It is sad to think of all of the families who are going without food, especially around the holidays,” says Meng Truong, owner of Lee Lee. “This is just one simple way we can help the community that has been so loyal to us over the years, and we hope through this that we can bring some joy to those in need.”

Lee Lee International Supermarket offers more than 200,000 products from more than 30 countries around the world, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Holland, Brazil and Argentina. For more information, visit LeeLeeSupermarket.com.

Homeless families need holiday help

Happy families receiving Thanksgiving dinners last year.

The Real Gift Foundation intends to deliver 3,650 pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinners to feed homeless families with this year but its fundraising effort is short $80,000, thanks to the lousy economy. For the 22,000 people who need food, Thanksgiving will be here next week regardless of the economy.

The Real Gift Foundation is looking for donations to help meet its goal. To donate, visit therealgift.org or call 602-482-5800.

Holiday giving: Fill a fire truck with food (and other ways to help on Super Saturday)

Rural-Metro fire fighters are asking the community to fill their truck with donations of non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.

Requested food items include peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, rice, pasta and cereal. Cash donations also are welcome.

For each dollar raised, the Food Bank can distribute the equivalent of seven meals into the community.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 19
Time: Noon to 4pm
Location: Bashas’ Supermarket, 5115 N. Litchfield Rd., Litchfield Park

The event is part of St. Mary’s fifth annual “Super Saturday” food drive. Visit any of the following additional locations from 9am to 3pm Saturday, Nov. 19, to drop off food or cash donations. The organization hopes to reach a goal of 6,000 donated turkeys for holiday boxes.

• St. Mary’s Food Bank Stardust Campus (2831 N. 31st Ave)
• St. Mary’s Westside Facility (13050 W. Elm Street in Surprise)
• Albertsons Desert Ridge (21001 N. Tatum Blvd.)
• Albertsons Glendale (20255 N. 59th Ave.)
• Albertsons Peoria (8240 W. Deer Valley Road)
• Albertsons Surprise (16750 W. Bell Road)
• Albertsons Scottsdale (2785 N. Scottsdale Road)
• Albertsons Via Linda (11475 E. Via Linda)
• Albertsons Flagstaff (1416 E. Route 66)
• Harkins Christown 14 (1620 W. Montebello)
• Harkins Scottsdale 101 14 (7000 E. Mayo Blvd.)
• Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18 (16046 N. Arrowhead Fountains Center)
• Harkins Gateway Pavilions 18 (10250 W. McDowell Road)
• Harkins Tempe Marketplace 16 (2000 E. Rio Salado Drive)
• Harkins Scottsdale Shea 14 (7354 E. Shea Blvd.)
• Harkins Flagstaff 11 (1959 Woodlands Village Blvd.)

Just look for the giant inflatable turkeys and smiling volunteers.

Your chance to make Thanksgiving happy for the Valley’s needy families

If turkey donations don’t pick up soon, many of the Valley’s needy families could be left empty handed this Thanksgiving.

Photo courtesy of United Food Bank.

So United Food Bank has extended hours at its drop-off sites in the hopes of encouraging more donations of turkeys and non-perishable fixings like canned vegetables, boxed stuffing and packaged mash potatoes.

“We know that the economy is affecting everyone right now. For many, putting a Thanksgiving dinner on your own table is putting a strain on your budget, let alone donating one,” says Bob Evans, President and CEO at United Food Bank. “But if everyone pitches in something — whether it’s a dollar, a turkey, or some nonperishable food — we can feed more people this Thanksgiving.”

Hours for incoming donations at the United Food Bank facility at 245 S. Nina Dr. in Mesa:

8am-5pm through Friday, Nov. 18
8am-noon Saturday, Nov. 19
8am-8pm Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 21-23

A United Food Bank refrigerated truck will be on hand at these locations this weekend:

9am-5:30pm Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Gilbert Days Parade and Expo

6-9pm Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Benefit Concert at Superstition Springs Center

Visit unitedfoodbank.org to see a complete list of off-site turkey drive locations.

Donate food, get tickets to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Photo courtesy of Children's Museum of Phoenix.

Here is the key to receiving a free ticket to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix: Donate any three non-perishable food items to a local Valley Ford dealership during the Ford Operation Goodwill Phoenix food drive from Oct. 22 to 31. Then redeem your ticket at the museum during December.

Ford Motor Company, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix are partnering to help the hungry throughout Arizona. Ford is also sponsoring “Ford Technology and Innovation Month” at the museum, featuring an exhibit with activities and innovations themed around the enterprising spirit of Henry Ford.

Last year, local Ford dealers were able to collect more than 5,000 pounds of food for United Food Bank in Mesa. The nonprofit also received a refrigerated F-550 truck from Ford Motor Company in 2009.

The goal this year is 6,000 pounds of food. Drop items off at one of the following locations:

Camelback Ford Lincoln Mercury
1330 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix
888-264-1851

Chapman Ford
7100 E. McDowell Rd, Scottsdale

Don Sanderson Ford
6400 N. 51st Ave., Glendale

Berge Ford
460 E. Auto Center Dr., Mesa

Earnhardt Ford
7300 W. Orchid Lane, Chandler

Bell Ford
2401 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix
602-866-1776

Power Ford of North Scottsdale
8555 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale
480-991-3333

Peoria Ford
9130 W. Bell Rd., Peoria

Robert Horne Ford
3400 S. Tomahawk Rd., Apache Junction
480-474-2500

Rodeo Ford
13680 W. Test Dr., Goodyear
877-746-1110

San Tan Ford
1429 Motorplex Loop, Gilbert
480-621-3700

For more information visit ford.com or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.

— Jordan Taffet

A Ford filled with food donations.

Shopping at Macy’s can provide books to Arizona kids

Julie Brown of Phoenix brought her son Nathan, 2, who was born prematurely, to the Children's Developmental Center at Southwest Human Development. Photo by Daniel Friedman.

Today through July 31, shopping at Macy’s can help put books in the hands of the children served by Southwest Human Development.

Through a partnership with Reading is Fundamental (RIF), Southwest’s early literacy programs will receive approximately one-third of the funds raised by local Macy’s stores.

Donate $3 at any Macy’s register and receive a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more. Southwest will receive $1 each time that happens in an Arizona store.

Several decades of research demonstrate that each child’s earliest experiences and relationships establish the foundation for all future development – intellectual, social, emotional, physical and behavioral. A child who starts life and school with a healthy foundation is at a distinct advantage.

Southwest’s mission is to give children an optimal start in life with opportunities for a bright and positive future.

Specific services include:

• Comprehensive Developmental Assessments
• Feeding Program for Infants & Young Children
• Autism Services, including a Side By Side Playgroup
• Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy
• Psychology and Counseling Services
• Assistive Technology Services 

Assistive technologies (A.D.A.P.T. store)
Team approach to developmental issues (Chldren’s Development Center)
Developmental tracking (My Child’s Ready)
Facing fussy with calm (Birth to Five Helpline’s Fussy Baby Program)

Nonprofits seek water donations for Valley’s homeless

Image via Wikipedia

With another scorching hot summer nearly here, the danger of dehydration is very present and real, and this health risk is even greater for the Valley’s homeless, who often do not have access to life-sustaining water.

Nonprofit groups across the Valley are committed to providing these at-risk individuals and families with the water they desperately need to survive another triple-digit summer.

The Department of Economic Security reported in 2009 that nearly 7,000 children and youth in Arizona experienced homelessness and received services from state nonprofit organizations.

MARICOPA COUNTY

There are more than 8,000 homeless individuals in Maricopa County alone. The Human Service Campus, a group of 15 homeless service providers, has created the “Thirst Aid” program in an effort to reduce incidences of heat-related death among the county’s homeless population. They hope that the community will support them in their goal of collecting and distributing 500,000 bottles of water between May 1 and September 30.

Tax-deductible donations can be made online at ThirstAidAZ.org, or by mailing checks payable to the Humane Services Campus to 204 S. 12th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Cases of bottled water can be donated directly to one of the following three locations:

Human Service Campus Office at the Success Center

• 204 South 12th Ave., Pheonix 85007
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday -Friday

Central Arizona Shelter Services

• 203 South 12th Avenue, Phoenix 85007
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday -Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

Lodestar Day Resource Center

• 1125 West Jackson Street, Phoenix 85007
• 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday -Sunday

Pickup services are also available in some areas. For more information or to schedule a pickup, contact Holly at 602-229-1242.

MESA

For the fifth year in a row, the City of Mesa will partner with local nonprofit groups to provide bottled water to the city’s homeless in the sweltering summer months through the Hydration Donation Program. Residents donated and distributed over 100,000 bottles last year.

The program’s five drop-off locations will receive donations of bottled water beginning June 1 through September 16. These locations include:

Mesa Fire Department Volunteer Center

• 2830 E. Adobe (located behind Fire Station 206 at Lindsay and Adobe)
• 24 hour drop-off in parking lot

Red Mountain Multigenerational Center

• 7550 E. Adobe
• 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday

United Food Bank

• 245 S. Nina Drive (north of Broadway between Extension and Alma School)
• 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (collection bins available on weekends)

Paz de Cristo

• 424 W. Broadway
• 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday – Sunday

A New Leaf – MesaCAN

• 635 E. Broadway
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday in the lobby

Give the life-giving gift of water to homeless children, adults and families in the Valley! — Sadie Smeck

Spring cleaning? Bring gently used items to Kohl’s

Kohl’s Department Stores and Swift Charities for Children have launched a Valleywide campaign to collect gently used clothing, shoes and soft good household items to raise money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Donations will be collected at any Kohl’s location.

Simply bag and tie your donations and drop them in the Swift Charities for Children donation box located on all Kohl’s parking lots through April 30. Swift charities will weigh the collected items, sell them by the pound and donate the net proceeds.

Items that will be accepted include clothing (all sizes), accessories, paired shoes, small household items (including books) and linens.

Swift Charities for Children is the only 100 percent not-forprofit program with Valleywide collection sites that allow the community to make contributions to a variety of local children’s organizations, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Phoenix Children’s is one of the 10 largest children’s hospitals in the country and provides specialty and sub-specialty inpatient, outpatient, trauma and emergency care to patients throughout Arizona and other Southwestern states.

Gryphen SPS hosts drive for animals in need

Gryphen Specialty Products and Services (GSPS) is hosting a canine/feline toy and food drive to help abandoned pets in Maricopa County. The ends Wednesday, Dec. 22, when donations will be delivered to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

“As the holidays approached, we decided that hosting this donation drive would be a way for Gryphen consumers and staff to give back to their community,” says Holly Nelson, marketing manager for Gryphen SPS. “The shelter takes in so many animals that it’s impossible to keep up with the demand for supplies. Gryphen wants to help in any way that we can.”

People are asked to purchase a new dog or cat toy, a bag of food or any other item listed on the MCACC wish list, which includes items like blankets, towels, sheets, newspaper, nebulizer, preventic flea and tick collars, dog shampoo and conditioner, pens, collars, dog and cat beds and food and water bowls.

“Our goal is to help thousands of abused and abandoned animals in the care of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control during this holiday season, as well as stock their shelves into the New Year,” Nelson says.

Donations can be dropped off at any of the following locations:

GSPS of Tempe
1301 E. University Dr. #130
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-966-9500

GSPS of Casa Grande
1411 N. Overfield Rd.
Casa Grande, AZ 85194
520-421-2800

GSPS of Coolidge
236 W. Coolidge Ave.
Coolidge, AZ 85128
520-723-8599

Gryphen SPS promotes and delivers products that are responsive to the employment needs of adults with developmental disabilities. For more information, call 480-966-9500 or visit gryphensps.com.