CAREFREE TRUTH
Carefree Truth #478
Carefree Truth
Issue #478, April 15, 2016
Mayor Les Peterson introduced Pam DiPietro, Executive Director of the Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center, saying this fine non profit provides support services for the entire foothills community. Mrs. DiPietro thanked Vice Mayor John Crane for inviting her to speak in front of the Council, and invited all the Council members to visit and receive a personal tour. Vice Mayor Crane called his tour " very impressive".
Pam DiPietro at the Food Bank
The Food Bank, which is located on Hidden Valley Drive in Cave Creek, was begun by individuals from area churches, and the service area followed the boundaries of the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD). It has since expanded to include Black Canyon City to the north, I-17 to the west, Pinnacle Peak Road to the south, and Rio Verde to the east, an approximately 180 square mile radius. Prior to that, residents of Black Canyon City had to go all the way to Prescott Valley to access the closest full service food bank. When Mrs. DiPietro started her job in 2002, the clientele was 90% Hispanic and 10% Caucasian. It is now reversed, with 20% Hispanic and 80% Caucasian.
They currently serve about 3,000 families/7,000 people, averaging 500 plus families per month, at a growth rate of 10% per month. 637 new families were helped in 2015. Some clients, especially senior citizens, are expected to be long term, while others visit once or twice and then no longer have the need. People come and go. The greatest number of those served by the Food Bank come from Cave Creek, the second greatest number come from Anthem, and the third greatest number come from Black Canyon City. Very few are from Carefree.
Over 400 volunteers perform 120 different functions. More than 800,000 pounds of food is given out annually. All the local grocery stores generously donate their excess food each day, which volunteer drivers pick up daily using the Food Bank's 2 vans. Schools, churches, civic groups, businesses, and individuals carry out food drives throughout the year, and individuals constantly make donations of food and/or money. About 90% of the food is donated; the rest is purchased.
The Foothills Food Bank is a full service food bank, providing more than food. Services include the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) for help in acquiring food stamps, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for state health insurance, Department of Human Services (DES) for utility assistance, Veterans Workforce for VA assistance, Project ID to help with searches for birth certificates and other forms of official identification, job search and resume assistance, one time financial assistance, and vouchers for thrift stores, gas, and pharmacies. Vice Mayor Crane pointed out that although the Food Bank is an extension of many of these government agencies which visit the Food Bank monthly, the Food Bank remains private. Mrs. DiPietro said she was invited to become a member of the DES Commission, which has been very helpful, so it's a two way street.
Mayor Peterson, who works with the County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Carefree, introduced the Director of DES for Maricopa County to Mrs. DiPietro. The Director will be meeting with representatives from the Food Bank, the Foothills Community Foundation/Foothills Caring Corps, and CCUSD to ascertain the greatest unfulfilled needs, and to see if the County has programs that could dovetail with these local non profit organizations. The north end of the Valley gets no particular government services. It has been a goal of the Food Bank to make more of these services available so people don't have to travel to central Phoenix to receive them. She thanked the Mayor for arranging this meeting.
Because the Foothills Food Bank is limited in what they can give, they partner with 3 St. Vincent de Pauls, the Salvation Army, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, the Desert Mission Food Bank, the Arizona Association of Food Banks, the Alliance of Arizona Non-profits, the Network of Anthem Area Assistance Program, Neighbors in Need (associated with CCUSD), the Caring Corps Seniors Program, the Snack Pack Program, and the VCA Animal Emergency Hospital for free pet vaccinations. St. Mary's is partnered with the national organization "Feed America", which allows food banks to pick up daily from area grocery stores. The Foothills Food Bank's partnership with St. Mary's is what allows them to pick up food from the Carefree Basha's, 2 Safeways, and 3 Fry's. The Food Bank works with both CCUSD and Deer Valley School District to provide Snack Packs. This program supplies approximately 200 students with enough food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus snacks, on Saturdays and Sundays.
Fundraisers include the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, Arizona Gives Day, the Charles Schwab Golf Outing, Christmas Tree Tags, Empty Bowls, the Mirabel Luncheon, The Nativities, A Taste of Cave Creek, as well as unplanned events that are initiated and carried out by others. The form for AZ Charitable Tax Credit donations can be found in the Food Bank newsletter. Empty Bowls, sponsored by the Sonoran Arts League and held in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in the Carefree Gardens, is their biggest annual fundraising event. The ladies who organized the luncheon at Mirabel Estates raised $47,000 this year for the Snack Pack Program. "God bless those ladies."
A 2,000 square foot addition is planned for the front of the Food Bank, and a capital program is underway. To date, a grant of $150,000 has been received from the Virginia Piper Charitable Trust, an anonymous donor has provided $50,000, and individuals have donated a total of $50,000, with $100,000 still needed. Once the building funds are in hand, the time from groundbreaking to completion is estimated at 90 days.
Mrs. DiPietro thanked the Council for allowing her to make the presentation on behalf of the Food Bank. The Mayor and several members of the Council thanked her for the good work she and the Foothills Food Bank do for the community. Vice Mayor Crane said what he found most impressive during his tour of the Food Bank was the focus and dedication of the volunteers. Mrs. DiPietro agreed, saying they come from many walks of life, and include retired executives who lift the boxes of food and carry them around.
(At the end of the video, Herbert scanned and inserted the entire Food Bank brochure, which shows photos of the facility and highlights the programs. Below the video link is a scanned version of the basic flier.)
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Leo Buscaglia
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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