Councilwoman Peggy Neely
City Sun Times May 2009
Foods Banks Need Our Help
For decades, local food banks have provided food to the growing number of Arizona's hungry residents. With the state’s economy in a slump, unemployment at seven percent and with one of the country's highest number of foreclosures, the amount of people turning to food banks for assistance has increased dramatically.
A bigger challenge facing food banks and other similar agencies is the recent increase of middle-income residents. When middle-income families lose their jobs or have their hours cut, they turn to food banks and other nonprofits for help, joining existing low-income families who comprise the bulk of such users.
The Association of Arizona Food Banks reported a 47.9 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance in the last quarter of 2008 compared with the same quarter in 2007. The group said a $153 million budget cut at the state Department of Economic Security removed nearly $170,000 for food-bank programs. Now more than ever is the time for residents to help.
Although there are several food banks citywide that need help, there are two in my district that I want to highlight: Paradise Valley Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. Call Paradise Valley Food Bank at 602-867-9228 or St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance at 602-343-3173 to see how you can help.
You also can contact the Association of Arizona Food Banks at 602-528-3434 or azfoodbanks.org to see a comprehensive list of Valleywide organizations that need our assistance. Bring together your neighborhoods and visit your local schools to start a food drive. Make it competitive to see who can donate the most food. Have fun with it and help do your part to help our community through these tough times.
Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which includes most of northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at 602-262-7445 or through e-mail at council.district.2@phoenix.gov.