Charity Spotlight- Sedona Food Bank

Pretty much everyone knows what a food bank is so you may see no need to spotlight it. However, food banks gain most of their attention and thus most of their donations around the holidays. Grocery stores, churches, schools and other organizations host collections around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The collections are generally a huge success but it turns out that people eat all year round. I imagine the holiday collections begin to run low by this point in the year while the need remains the same. I figured it would be a good opportunity to bring some attention to the local food banks in hopes of inspiring some food giving excitement. If you are like me, you likely visit the grocery store at least once a week, so next time you are there pick up an extra jar of peanut butter or a few cans of soup. If you shop at Bashas you can link your “Thank You Card” to the Sedona food bank and they will donate 1% of your purchases to the food bank. If you don’t live in Sedona, ask your grocery store about options like that in your area. Sedona Food Bank’s motto is “Trade hunger for hope.” If you can bring hope to someone’s life through a can of soup, I would say go for it! Many food banks and shelters make hot meals, so you could call the one in your area and ask their specific needs. You may be able to donate something like a whole turkey or other perishable items.

Another option for helping the food bank: A friend of mine makes unique and delicious pies. This month if you purchase one of her pies, $2 will go to the Food Bank. Check out her website for more information on her pies and pricing.

Most communities, Sedona included, have a Meals on Wheels program. It not only relies on food donations but volunteers who are willing to deliver the items. According to the Sedona Community Center website, their  volunteers will deliver around 12,500 meals this year. Many people depend on this service for survival. In coordination with the Food Bank, the Community Center also runs a “Breakfast Club” which delivers a bag of breakfast items to sustain recipients for the weekend when meals are not delivered. The recipients in the Sedona area are generally senior citizens recovering from a medical condition.

There are a lot of ways to get involved to help the hungry. Whether it be food, time or money any small contribution will make a difference to a family in need.