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.

School-age kids can join the fight against hunger

United Food Bank has come up with a way to teach school-age children about philanthropy and community service.

By donating one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly at a participating “Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive” location your child becomes a member of the Kids’ Lunch Bunch Club. New members of the club receive a certificate and a token of appreciation from participating business.

“Every night one out of four kids in Arizona goes to bed hungry,” says Bob Evans, United Food Bank President and CEO.

The program is designed to raise children’s awareness of hunger in Arizona and make them part of the solution. “This is a kids-helping-kids program,” says Evans.

Below is a list of “Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive” participating businesses, food drive dates and the item children who show up will receive.

AUGUST  1-31

Children’s Museum of Phoenix
215 N 7th St, Phoenix
childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
Participation enters your child in a drawing for a free membership (admits two) at the Climber level.

Bounce U
1166 South Gilbert Rd, #110, Gilbert
bounceu.com
Open bounce pass.

Arizona Museum for Youth
35 N Robson St, Mesa
arizonamuseumforyouth.com
Free admission pass, 1 per family (some restrictions apply).

My Pigsty Furniture
1528 W San Pedro #7, Gilbert
mypigsty.com
$10 off coupon and a special prize.

Superstition Springs Center
6555 E Southern Ave, Mesa
Superstition Springs Center
Special PB&J drive participation sticker.

August 1-7

Yodipity
yodipityyogurt.com
1033 N Dobson Rd, Mesa
15% off purchase.

August 19-21

Gameworks
5000 Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe
arizonamills.com
30 minutes of unlimited game play.

Fiddlesticks
1155 West Elliot Rd, Tempe
fiddlesticksaz.com
Unlimited ride wristband.

Brunswick Zone XL
1160 South Gilbert Rd, Gilbert
bowlbrunswick.com
Coupon for one free game of bowling.

United Food Bank is a private nonprofit organization that provides hunger relief/food assistance by collecting, acquiring, storing and distributing food and related commodities through a network of partner social services agencies in the East Valley, eastern Maricopa County, Gila and Pinal counties and southern Apache and Navajo counties. Learn more.