BY LAURYN HALVER | JUNE 18, 2014
Bring on the Summer Donations!
The Foothills Food Bank serves “Anthem, Black Canyon City, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix, North Scottsdale, Rio Verde and other north valley areas” year-round to provide urgent food supply to families and person(s) in need.
Their new facility in the heart of Cave Creek is 5,000 square feet, or five times as large as their old location. Food supplies are given in seven and 30 day increments as well as what Pam DiPietro, the executive director calls “extras” which are perishables in addition to the month and week’s rations.
For a 30 day supply, the recipient(s) are given three days worth of food or nine meals that are sized according to the number of members in the family. For a weeks’ supply of food, the food bank weighs food and gives out different amounts of food in pounds again, according to the number of people who will be receiving the food.
Currently, the food bank is feeding about 2,000 people per month. They receive perishable goods from local grocery stores such as (but not limited to) Safeway, Fry’s, Bashas’, Trader Joe’s, Albertson’s, and St. Mary’s Food Bank. To collect these donations, they use a van donated by Carefree Kiwanis and Jesco Electric.
Non-perishable and monetary donations are given to the food bank primarily by individuals. These donations include things like canned goods, bottled water, juice boxes, dry cereal, etc.
Any and all funds are raised solely through donations. During the summer months, however these donations die off as many of the regular contributors leave for cooler temperatures.
If you can help, please send your monetary donations to Foothills Food Bank, P.O. Box 715, Carefree, AZ 85377. Food donations can be dropped off at 6038 E. Hidden Valley Drive Cave Creek, AZ 85331.
