St. Mary’s looking for donations to close out year, prep for 2019

PHOENIX — The St. Mary’s Food Bank is urging Arizona residents to continue to donate as 2018 comes to a close, with 2019 in mind.

“St. Mary’s gets 40 percent of all of its food donations in the months of November and December,” Jerry Brown, director of public relations with St. Mary’s Food Bank said. “Not only do we collect food to hand out during the holiday season, but we need to have a lot of food brought in during these two months so we can kind of get through the first three to four months of next year when donations drop significantly and people don’t really have the food bank on their mind.

“So December donations are very important for us for more than one reason.”

The donations are especially important for when schools are not in session for winter break.

“With the kids out of school, that means people are leaning on the food banks a little bit more during this time of the week, as the kids aren’t getting their free breakfast and free lunches in the schools,” Brown said.

Items that the food bank is looking for are proteins, such as tuna, beans and peanut butter. It is also asking for canned fruits and vegetables and cereal, which are important for stockpiling for the future.

And while some smaller food banks will be closed over the holiday week, St. Mary’s will remain open all week.

Related

ICE contractor signs deal to reopen Arizona prison as immigration detention centerMore than a dozen dogs saved from hoarding case at VRBO, 6 looking for foster homesPeoria dispatchers hear gunfire after caller warns of impending murder-suicideNorthern Arizona University hazing sentencing brings 60 days in jail for ex-fraternity leaderAdrian Fontes, Alex Kolodin meet for final secretary of state debate before electionMatthew Mayich’s family calls ASU hockey head coach Greg Powers’ leave ‘long overdue’