KTAR News’ Gaydos and Chad Show brings back Food Bank Fridays to support St. Mary’s

PHOENIX — Peoria resident Trent remembers running low on cash five to six years ago and needing a food bank as he was unable to afford groceries for his family.

St. Mary’s Food Bank was there for Trent and his wife in their time of need, with the couple visiting two to three times during that month to get an emergency food box from St. Mary’s Food Bank.

“It really, really helped,” Trent told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad Show.

“It doesn’t feel good not being able to put food on the plate for your wife and for your family. It’s not the greatest feeling in the world but knowing that there is somewhere there to help you out, that definitely makes you feel a little better.”

Trent is not alone as millions in Arizona face food insecurity every year and that’s why Gaydos and Chad are bringing back their Food Bank Fridays benefitting St. Mary’s Food Bank presented by The UPS Store and Sweet James Accident Attorneys.

The campaign runs through July 29 and the goal is to raise $15,000 for the nonprofit, which would equate to 100,000 meals.

People can text “FOOD” to 411923 or donate online.

Emergency food boxes packaged by St. Mary’s Food Bank are supposed to last a few days for a family of four. The food boxes can be picked up at distribution sites around the Valley and people can find the closest location to them online.

The organization also services churches, kitchens and other food banks across the state.

St. Mary’s is in need of help as its food supply is low but demand remains high as the organization tries to fill the gap for families in need.

The launch of Food Bank Fridays coincides with the return of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive on May 14.

People can simply leave non-perishable food items next to their mailbox and it will be picked up by letter carriers and brought back to postal stations where food bank trucks are waiting.

More than four million pounds of food was lost for Arizona food banks over the past two years when the food drive was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with St. Mary’s losing 1 million pounds alone.

The food drive, which started in Arizona, is the largest single-day food drive in the country with more than 70 million pounds of food being donated annually.

In addition to benefitting St. Mary’s Food Bank, the food drive also helps United Food Bank Desert Mission, St. Vincent de Paul and other Valley food banks.

People can learn more about other St. Mary’s Food Bank services, such as home delivery, or find out how to volunteer on the website.

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