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We have had a very wonderful and busy year. This is due to the great people who came to receive their food boxes and the bread and produce give-aways. It could not have been possible without the generous donations of time and monies from our volunteers.
Our funding is 100% dependent on the donations we receive. Many local community groups, businesses, churches, schools and individuals have stepped up to help us out. We have received not only the wonderful monetary donations, but also all the can drives that brought in boxes of food for our food boxes.
We have four primary fund raising events each year. The main one is our holiday fund raising mailing that goes out in the fall. Thank you for everyone who has sent in their donations. In February we host a Valentines Spaghetti dinner upstairs at Los Hermanos restaurant. This dinner includes a raffle with very nice gifts and wonderful background music. This year it is being held Friday, Feb. 3, from 5-7:30 p.m. In November, the High School DECA club does their ‘Fill-a-Bowl’ soup and salad dinner. Each year, the amount raised has risen by $1,000. They do a fantastic job and the food is great. Best of all, you get to keep your bowl. Near the end of the year, a group of Superior High School graduates, puts on a Corn Hole Tournament in the downtown area. They collect can donations and hold a raffle to help raise the funds. It is a lot of fun to participate in the competition and help out the Food Bank.
Major businesses have jumped in to help us out as well. Resolution Copper, APS, Southwest Gas, and a number of local construction companies have joined as to provide extra food to Superior. Many smaller companies have also come along side to raise the funds needed to operate the food bank. Churches have food drives and take special offerings to donate as well.
We are a 501c3 charity and operate under the guidance of United Food Bank in Mesa. We have two deliveries each month and then distribute our food boxes on the last Thursday and Friday of the month. In November and December, we distribute on the week prior to the holidays. This helps to ensure a good meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the hottest part of the summer, we switch from 3 in the afternoon, to the evening, getting us out of the hot sun. To make sure our residents at the Arboretum apartments get their food, we pack it up into two vehicles and make a delivery to them. We place the food in grocery carts and go to each apt.
What do we do with the funds? We pay our utilities so the food keeps cold and does not spoil. We carry insurance and help with some of the maintenance to the building. Much of the delivered food comes from stores in the valley. Some of it must be payed for, but at a discounted rate. Save Money Market, works with us each year to find the best prices for the hams and turkeys. We then look forward to our generous donors to raise the approximate $5,000 to cover all that meat that we give out for free. From time to time, we acquire a grant to purchase commercial refrigerators or freezers.
No one who works at the Food Bank is a paid employee. We are all volunteers. We are run by a board of directors, who oversee the operations and participate in the monthly work. We are regularly inspected by the Health Dept. and, so far, have passed with a very good grade. We at this time, have several positions open on the board, so let us know if you are interested. Stop by the Food Bank and let us know.
A very, very special thank you to all who helped us to make it through 2016. We look forward to working with you again for 2017 to see a fantastic year of helping our community.
Thank you from the Board of Directors of the Superior Food Bank.
/s/ Rev. Dennis Van Gorp
Chairman
Dennis Van Gorp is a the pastor at Family Life Christian Center in Superior Arizona. The writes a pastor's column for the Superior Sun on a regular basis.
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