NewsFood bank client list continues to grow
By Ellen Sussman, Special to the Green Valley NewsAt a time when the Green Valley Community Food Bank is seeing a record number of clients, a donation of $5,000 from Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold has allowed the purchase of much-needed refrigeration equipment and shelves for the walk-in freezer. “I feel they’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” food bank Executive Director Mary Jane Goodrick said. “Just saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem adequate, but we do thank them.” In addition to the new refrigerated unit being more energy-efficient, it’s larger and allows for stocking the unit with more products at one time. The donation comes as the food bank is seeing soaring numbers that Goodrick said is a direct result of the struggling economy. “We have newer clients, those who have lost their jobs or have had their hours cut,” she said. “In some cases, adult children who have lost jobs are moving in with their parents... sometimes grandchildren are included.” The food bank’s greatest needs include peanut butter, cereal and canned tomato products. They also take frozen food items, which need to be brought in when the food bank is open — Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Tuesday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The food must be sealed and in its original packaging. The food bank is still adjusting to the loss of generous donations from Basha’s, which closed last month, but now receives packaged items and canned food two days a week from Wal-Mart. Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net. WHO'S IN NEED July figures from the Green Valley Community Food Bank: Numbers were up in nearly every category tracked by the Food Bank.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of gvnews.com. Lis wrote on Aug 12, 2009 8:14 PM: " People that visit the GV Food Bank must bring in proof of residency and must live in the GV / Sahuarita area. " C. Gordon wrote on Aug 13, 2009 10:54 AM: " When you put water in the desert to help them come, you must expect to have to feed them once they are here. Thank you AmericaFirst for pointing out the issue at hand. Liz, living here does not prove legal status. " Barbara wrote on Aug 13, 2009 1:39 PM: " I agree. There are many needy people right here. Close the borders. I want Tom Tancrado!! " ed scott wrote on Aug 13, 2009 3:37 PM: " To AmericaFirst........hunger comes first. There are 1 billion fellow humans, sadly referred to as the bottom billion, struggling tonight to find food. I live in GV and pass the food bank daily and I don't recall ever seeing, in over five years, a car with Mexican plates. But so what if I did. Hunger doesn't know borders. The food bank is next to the fire station on the corner of Abrego and Continental in GV, you can't miss it. Come by and look suffering and hungry people in the face, and then ask yourself "does it matter where the hungry live?". Daily, 24,000 people die from hunger. Do you contribute to the food banks, AmericaFirst, or do you worry whom your donation may feed? " Submit a Comment |
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AmericaFirst wrote on Aug 12, 2009 4:55 AM: