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Food Lines is a quarterly publication of the

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Food Lines

Jumping Right In: New AAFB President & CEOAngie Rodgers (right) is captured next to Dr. Peggy Stemmler of the AZ Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics at a child nutrition gathering in July.

www.azfoodbanks.org | /azfoodbanks | /aafb

• Get to Know New CEO Angie Rodgers & Her Vision for Fighting Hunger• Why the Fight Over the Farm Bill & SNAP (Food Stamps) is so Critical• Good Weather Wanted: Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project Update

a quarterly publication of the Association of Arizona Food Banks

Fall 2013 | Vol. 30 | No. 1

Gleaning Project Task Force Planning: Before the semi-trucks hit the road this produce season, collaboration between the Gleaning Project and

our member food banks helps ensure success.

Insi

de:

Dear Friends,

There is nothing like watching a child’s eyes see something for the first time. I am amazed each time my children learn new things, discover new places or solve a mystery. I imagine that is what I have felt like for the past 90 days. When I accepted this job, my background in public policy and advocacy prepared me for writing briefing papers, crafting action messages to elected officials and creating consensus where there was none. However, within the first few days of the job, I quickly learned I had a lot to learn about hunger.

The first few weeks were spent visiting our five member food banks and many of the 1,600 agencies they serve. I added words to my vocabulary like gleaning (harvesting excess crops), drop and hook (leaving one trailer at a food bank and picking up another) and food resourcer (someone who works with growers and other donors to gather donations). I memorized critical facts like 19% of Arizonans are food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from, and 128,000 seek access to emergency food each week. I met with both private and governmental partners to discuss our efforts to date and strategize about how to continue to meet the needs of hungry Arizonans with the continued downturn in the economy. With this knowledge and a foundation in poverty research, I am starting to put the puzzle together.

Sure, this is a good start. But we have some big challenges ahead. Food insecurity rates in Arizona are among the high-est in the country and our unemployment rate continues to hover above 8%. As I write this, Congress is considering significant cuts to SNAP (Food Stamps) which could cut 125,000 hungry Arizonans from this critical program. Some believe food banks would be able to fill the gap for these children, families and seniors. However, our food bank net-work is struggling to meet existing needs and could not absorb this cut. Hunger is often the first sign of a weakening economy. It is also the last to recover. AAFB still fields thousands of calls every year looking for food assistance and our food banks continue to stretch their dollars and ration donations to meet a continuous high demand.

With these challenges in mind, there are also many wonderful opportunities. I am amazed at the already 350-plus individuals we have in our Advocacy Team (sign up sending an email to brian@azfoodbanks.org), the phone calls from eager volunteers and donors that are ready to help this holiday season, and the generous contributions from individuals and corporations that help support our Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project. There are so many ways for you to get involved in solving hunger in Arizona and I encourage you to join me in my eye opening journey!

Respectfully,

Angie Rodgers, President & CEO

Advocacy Matters House Splits Farm Bill, Votes to Cut SNAP (Food Stamps) by $40B

Over the summer, the House of Representatives took the unprecedented move of splitting the Farm Bill in two, placing SNAP (Food Stamps) and other nutrition programs in limbo while passing farm subsidies and related measures. Many speculated that having been separated from the herd, this would leave SNAP vulnerable to large cuts, and in mid-September, the House voted to cut SNAP by nearly $40 billion over the next decade. By comparison, the Senate voted to cut SNAP by only $4 billion over ten years. In addition, SNAP is subject to automatic spending reductions when Stimulus funding expires in November - learn more about that at www.stopthehungerclock.org.

The House passed these cuts on the same day the Census released poverty data (see below) showing, amongst other things, that SNAP was successful in keeping an additional 4 million Americans out of poverty. This is critically important, because as our economy gradually improves, SNAP enrollment is projected to return to previous pre- recession norms, as it has historically done in the past - see this projection provided by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Ultimately, the House’s bill will need to be reconciled with the Senate, or the current Farm Bill will need to be extended in a continuing resolution or be passed in some other way as part of a larger debt-ceilingor omnibus piece of legislation before December 31.

If the House version was enacted as-is, it would remove an estimated 125,000 Arizonans from the program. While at the time of publication we can’t know what will happen with the Farm Bill and SNAP, it’s never too late for advocates to contact their representatives to reiterate “NO SNAP cuts!” It’s easy to do so at www.contactingthecongress.org.

From the President’s DeskAngie Rodgers, AAFB President & CEO

Census Releases New Poverty Data for 2012Also in September, the U.S. Census Bureau, through its American Community Survey, released poverty data for 2012 showing 18.7% of individuals and 27.0% of children under the age of 18 in Arizona lived in poverty. Both figures are essentially unchanged from 2011 as the economy continues its nearly non-existent recovery. These 2012 figures rank Arizona 8th in the U.S. for both highest percentage of individuals living in poverty and highest percentage of children living in poverty. For comparison, in 2012, 15.9% of individuals and 22.6% of children lived in poverty nationwide. Want to dig deeper into the poverty data? We’ve broken it all down, including by county and metro area, on our website: www.azfoodbanks.org/index.php/hunger/#a1.

AAFB Quick Takes

Order Your Hunger Relief License Plate TodayAlmost 1,300 have been ordered - do you have yours? The official Arizona Hunger Relief specialty license plate can be ordered at www.servicearizona.com or by visiting any MVD or Authorized Third Party office. They look awesome and are a great way to promote the hunger cause - $17 of the $25 fee benefits AAFB and our member food banks that collectively serve all 15 Arizona counties. Keep in mind specialty license plate fees are not pro-rated, therefore your new Hunger Relief license plate will renew on your next scheduled vehicle registration renewal date.

David J. Armstrong Named to AAFB Board

We are pleased to announce the election of David Armstrong to the AAFB Board of Directors. Armstrong is a Partner at Ballard Spahr LLP, counseling clients on environmental risks and liabilities in corporate and real estate transactions and regulatory compliance. He has significant experience assisting clients in the defense of administrative and civil proceedings involving permitting and environmental enforcement matters at the federal and state levels. He has experience conducting environmental due diligence, negotiating environmental indemnity agreements and environmental insurance policies, and providing advice on environmental issues in a variety of transactions. Armstrong regularly litigates environmental matters for industrial, manufacturing, and commercial clients across the country in federal and state courts, in administrative tribunals, and before arbitrators and mediators.

Welcome Merari Ornelas to the AAFB Team

In September, AAFB brought Merari Ornelas onboard as Administrative Assistant. She works in the front office answering phones helping clients find food resources, does data entry, and assists with bookkeeping. Say hi at merari@azfoodbanks.org.

Fry’s Supports AAFB, Remembering Jon Flora

Fry’s Food Stores again generously donated $25,000 to AAFB this year in support of our ongoing efforts to fight hunger. The donation was part of their annual “Bringing Hope to the Table” campaign, which donates the equivalent of more than 3 million meals each week. Fry’s is a longtime supporter of AAFB and Arizona’s food banks, especially via store pick-up programs, where the food banks pick up overstock or soon to be expired food items from stores each week and distribute them to clients.

In September, the world learned that Jon Flora, president of Fry’s Food Stores in Arizona since 2007, passed away suddenly at the age of 58. Under Flora’s dedicated and hands-on leadership, Fry’s became even more involved in supporting Arizona communities, including food banks, schools and other charities. He will be missed.

Hunger Action Month RecapThis September concluded another successful Hunger Action Month, where AAFB joined food banks and advocates across the country to take action to fight hunger via food drives, volunteer events, and so much more! Some highlights:

• Go Orange Day was Thursday, September 5, where individuals were encouraged to wear orange. In addition, the Chase Tower in downtown Phoenix glowed orange every Thursday evening all month long.

• The Arizona Community Action Association and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona both held their own SNAP (Food Stamp) challenges during the first week of September, encouraging people to limit their weekly food purchases to the weekly budget of a typical SNAP participant, which is just $29. Participants, including our own Angie Rodgers and Brian Simpson, blogged about their experiences at http://snapexperience.wordpress.com.

• People were encouraged to sit down with their family and watch the hunger documentary A Place at the Table. We screened it at our Statewide Food Bank Conference in May, and it is out on DVD, Blu-Ray, Netflix and On-Demand.

Bashas’ Settlement Benefits AAFB, Food Banks AAFB and several of our member food banks were named beneficiaries of nearly $1.5 million in restitution stemming from the mislabeling of steaks and beef at some Bashas’-owned AJ’s Fine Foods stores. The deal was agreed upon by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Bashas’ following an investigation by the USDA.

Thank You for Supporting the Breakfast First Cereal Drive and 3TV Child Hunger Drive

Child hunger is a huge issue in Arizona, with one in four children struggling with food insecurity. In August, 12 News, the Arizona Republic, 98.7 the Peak and KTAR came together for the Breakfast First Cereal Drive, encouraging shoppers to donate boxes of cereal at Safeway. In September, 3TV joined forces with Bashas’, Food City and Safeway by asking shoppers to donate right at the register. Both drives benefitted AAFB and were huge successes! THANK YOU to all who donated!

David J. Armstrong

Merari Ornelas

The Next Chapter of AAFB: Angie Rodgers & Her Hunger Fighting VisionIn June, AAFB was fortunate to be able to welcome Angie Rodgers to the President and CEO role, succeeding Ginny Hildebrand. Ginny, of course, left a legacy of almost 30 years that in many ways wrote the blueprint on how we fight hunger today. A legacy like that creates some pretty big shoes to fill.

Angie has quickly proven to be eager to accept the challenge. She has gotten her feet wet quickly, energizing and engaging the staff, our member food banks, partners and donors alike with a mandate to expand our advocacy efforts, establish even greater collaboration among our member food banks, and ultimately reinforce AAFB as the leader in Arizona in the fight against hunger. Angie comes to AAFB with more than 15 years’ worth of experience in human services public policy research and advocacy in Arizona, including serving as Governor Napolitano’s Human Services Policy Advisor, focusing on food security, health insurance, child support, employment, early intervention and senior services. Having experience with Arizona’s unique political landscape has allowed her to immediately step in and ensure that AAFB’s advocacy efforts have not missed a beat.

As we’ve said in the past, hunger truly is the canary in the coal mine - if an individual, child or family is struggling with hunger, there is no doubt that there are other related struggles such as medical issues, job loss, lack of transportation or mobility, crippling poverty, etc. Hunger is a public health issue. It’s also an economic one. Angie’s view is that each of us is inter-connected in a myriad of ways within our society as a whole, and the health of that society is only as strong as how successful we are at caring for those who are struggling, and giving them opportunity to move themselves into a better situation after the initial struggle. Angie doesn’t just want Arizona’s food banks to feed hungry people or for AAFB to advocate solely for hunger issues. She wants each of our organizations to work even more closely together with each other, as well as with other invested individuals and organziations locally and nationally to create a prosperous econcomic future for all.

One way to better appreciate some of the challenges faced by those struggling with hunger and poverty is through a SNAP (Food Stamp) Challenge, which was promoted this year by Arizona Community Action Association and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona as part of Hunger Action Month in September. During the Challenge, participants limit their total food purchases to the weekly budget of an average SNAP recipient - roughly $29 per week. Angie jumped right in this year, despite the added challenge of Type I diabetes and concerns from her four young children, because she knows that simulating some of the challenges faced by those we advocate on behalf of helps us better understand their plight and thus makes our advocacy efforts that much stronger. Along with many others, Angie’ blogged about her experiences that week at http://snapexperience.wordpress.com and you are encouraged to check it out.

As we look toward the future, Angie has outlined goals for AAFB and the fight against hunger in Arizona:

• Continue our focus on reducing barriers to access, including SNAP, the services of food banks, and other resources that comprise our safety net. AAFB is committed to ensuring that individuals and families are aware of and participating in any public or private program they qualify for, and that they have opportunities to participate in the civic processes that allow them to have a voice in their economic future.

• View food insecurity as a long-term economic issue. Someone who is hungry today, who receives an emergency food box from a food bank, will likely still be hungry next week, next month, etc., until they are able to access the economic security provided by gainful employment at a living wage. This is why advocacy is so critical and why framing hunger issues as economic ones is so important: Hunger directly leads to lost productivity, higher healthcare costs and poor educational outcomes for children.

• Enhance our research to focus on storytelling through statistics to put a human face on a very human problem. And not just to describe a problem such as hunger, but to then ask if we care enough to solve the problem? One in two children receive SNAP benefits in their lifetime, an experience that’s near universal. Your kids at school know these children, are friends with them, and interact with them everyday. The problem can be recognized, quantified and publicized through real stories of human experience - now what do we do to address it?

• Laser focus on our member food banks to free them to focus on the core parts of their mission - feeding hungry Arizonans. The recession hit food banks hard, leading to record levels of demand for services that still holds strong today. How can we create and leverage resources, partnerships and creativity to support and serve them?

Join Angie and AAFB by Strengthening our ConnectionOne of the best ways you can help fight hunger is by strengthening your connection with AAFB! An easy and effective way to do this is by sharing your email address with us so we can keep you

informed on the latest from the world of food banking in our bi-weekly email newsletter, and ensure your voice is heard as a part of our Advocacy Team emails.

Email brian@azfoodbanks.org today to strengthen your connection with AAFB!

Angie in Action: Since being named

President and CEO in June, Angie has wasted little time in creating a

vision for AAFB’s future.

ARIZONA STATEWIDEGLEANING PROJECTPHOENIX, AZA PROGRAM OF THE

The Latest on the Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project

Celebrate the holidays, a birthday, or any special occasion by making a contribution in honor or memory of family members, friends, colleagues, or a treasured loved one. Acknowledgements, without dollar amounts, will be sent to your honorees if you wish. Others have chosen to become monthly donors by having AAFB charge their credit card each month on the 5th or the 20th, a convenient way to keep supporting our work throughout the year.

Returning the enclosed envelope or making a secure online donation at www.azfoodbanks.org today helps usdeliver much needed food and services to food banks, and advocate for better resources for families in need.

Let Your Employer Work for You: Employer Matching Gifts

Did you know you may be able to double your gift to AAFB through Matching Gift Programs? Many employers offer to match your gift as a way to encourage their employees, and often their retirees, to support charitable organizations. While many of our donors access this opportunity, many may not realize this potential. Ask your human resources office if your company offers a Matching Gift Program today.

Receive a TAX CREDIT For Your 2013 DonationYou Do NOT Have to Itemize!

You can receive a tax credit for your 2013 donation! Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 43-1088(G)(2), AAFB is recognized as serving the working poor. If you qualify, you could receive a FULL TAX CREDIT, up to $200 (filing as a single unmarried head of household) or $400 (married filing joint return) for donating to AAFB on or before December 31, 2013. See www.azdor.gov for more details, or call 602-255-3381 or 1-800-843-7196 from area codes 520 or 928. Always consult your tax preparer or financial advisor for specific advice.

Fall Brings Hope of Strong Produce SeasonAfter suffering through a lackluster produce season last year, brought on by a devastating cold spell that caused widespread freezing and subsequent croploss, the Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project and our member food banks are optimistic for a strong produce season this year.

Food banks all across the country are prioritizing fruits and vegetables as the key to getting healthier and fresher food into the hands of families who need it most. Of course, Arizona food banks and the Gleaning Project have been ahead of this curve for two decades now, but our commitment to get more produce into our food bank network is greater now than at any other time. And that commitment is justified - clients receiving fresh produce confirm its something they really want. As a result, our food banks are purchasing more fresh produce than ever before to meet demand.

Bottom line, a strong produce season could help alleviate having to purchase as much produce. In addition, the Chari-table Crop Contribution Law passed in 2012 is acting as a further catalyst to spur fresh produce donations too, weather permitting. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather this fall and winter - ours are!

Your Support Needed to Fight Hunger

2012-13 Gleaning Project Annual Report Out Now

After 20 years and more than 918 pounds distributed, you can take a closer look at the Gleaning Project in its 2012-13 Annual Report at www.azfoodbanks.org/index.php/gleaning-project.

Thank You & Congratulations to Longtime Gleaning Project Driver Frank Walker

We also wish to express a special thank you to long-time driver Frank Walker, a charming and dedicated roving ambassador for the Gleaning Project. Frank drove for the Gleaning Project for over 10 years, logging hundreds of thousands of miles distributing millions of pounds of food to our many partners. Congratulations on your retirement Frank, you will be missed!

Planned Giving – Leaving a Legacy of Continued CaringDr. Arthur Stern Remembered

Dr. Arthur Stern, PhD, a decorated WWII veteran, beloved professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Arizona, and longtime supporter of AAFB passed away in February at age 95. In his estate planning he directed a $50,000 gift to AAFB. Dr. Stern never ceased his support of human rights, education and programs to help those less fortunate than himself, which he championed with passion, talent and exuberant generosity. It was said that he found his greatest sense of accomplishment in the art of instilling the highest standards of critical thinking in his friends and students so that they might serve the greater needs of society. His foresight to plan for the future needs of AAFB and other organizations is greatly appreciated. We are fortunate and grateful to have such friends.

You can also include AAFB in your will or donate appreciated stock from your investment portfolio as part of a planned giving strategy. The tax benefits from the donation of stocks and other investments can be very valuable, and such a generous gift makes a real difference in helping AAFB advance its mission of eliminating hunger in Arizona.

If you would like to support AAFB as Dr. Stern did, or discuss investment-related donation options, please contact Virginia Skinner at 602-528-3434 or 1-800-445-1914 today.

Our Mission:To deliver food and quality services to food banks

and foster relationships in support of our commitment to eliminate hunger.

Established in 1984, AAFB is a private, non-profit organization serving five-member regional food bank members and a network of nearly 1,600 food pantries and agencies. As one of the first state associations in the nation and an inaugural partner state association

of Feeding America, AAFB was instrumental in the development of a statewide gleaning project, and our advocacy efforts have brought about beneficial state

and federal legislation for our member food banks and the people they serve.

The Association of Arizona Food Banks is not a food bank - we help make food banking better.

2013-14 Board of Directors:

Board Chair: Karilee Ramaley, JDSalt River Project

Vice Chair: Karina ErnstsenWells Fargo

Secretary / Treasurer: Jo Ellen SereySerey/Jones Publishers, Inc.

David Armstrong Ballard Spahr, LLP, Law Firm

Angela “Anne” Bellan School & Hospital Administrator (Retired)

Bill CarnegieCommunity Food Bank of Southern Arizona

Beverly B. DamoreSt. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

Bob EvansUnited Food Bank

Jerome K. Garrison, Sr., Ed.D. South Mountain Community College

Mike IversYuma Community Food Bank

William H. NordWells Fargo, retired

Susan Riedel, MBAModern Woodmen of America

David SchwakeLitchfield Elementary School District

VacantDesert Mission Food Bank

AAFB Staff:

Angie Rodgers President & CEO

Virginia SkinnerDirector of Development

Brian SimpsonDirector of Communications

Sylvia McKeeverGleaning Project Logistics Manager

Carol Aanenson-Thomey Executive Assistant

Sherry Hostler Business Manager

Merari Ornelas Administrative Assistant

Harold Graf Volunteer

AAFB is funded by donations and is partially funded by the Arizona Dept. of Economic Security–Family Assistance Administration. Points of view are those of the author and do not necessarily

represent the official position or policies of the Department. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, AAFB must make reasonable accommodation to allow a person with a disability to take part in a program, service, or activity. For example, this means that if necessary, the AAFB must provide sign language interpreters for

people who are deaf, a wheelchair accessible location, or enlarged print materials. It also means that the AAFB will take any other

reasonable action that allows you to take part in and understand a program or activity, including making reasonable changes to an activity. If you believe that you will not be able to understand or

take part in a program or activity because of your disability, please let us know of your disability needs in advance if at all possible.

Please contact AAFB at 602-528-3434.

Get Food Lines in Your Inbox:Help us save costs by receiving FOOD LINES in your inbox. Saving on printing and postage costs allows

us to direct more resources toward our mission! Email brian@azfoodbanks.org to receive future issues of

FOOD LINES in your inbox.

FOOD LINES is published quarterly by the Association of Arizona Food Banks. It is published in October,

December, March, and May. Send correspondence to:

Association of Arizona Food Banks2100 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230

Phoenix, AZ 85004-1400

Contributing writers and editors: Angie Rodgers, Brian Simpson, Virginia Skinner, Sherry Hostler,

Merari Ornelas

Design & Layout: Brian Simpson

Printing: Epic Print Solutions - Phoenix, AZ

Stay Connected with AAFB: Join the Advocacy Team: Stay current on state and

federal activities by sending an email with “Subscribe to the AAFB Advocacy Team” in the subject line to

brian@azfoodbanks.org.

Bi-Weekly Email Blast: Subscribe to the bi-weekly AAFB Email Newsletter by emailing Brian Simpson at

brian@azfoodbanks.org.

: www.twitter.com/aafb

: www.facebook.com/azfoodbanks

AAFB Member Food Banks Collectively Serve

All 15 Arizona Counties: Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

www.communityfoodbank.org | 520.622.0525

Desert Mission Food Bankwww.jcl.com/foodbank | 602.870.6062

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliancewww.firstfoodbank.org | 602.242.3663

United Food Bankwww.unitedfoodbank.org | 480.926.4897

Yuma Community Food Bankwww.yumafoodbank.org | 928.343.1243

Additional Resources:Arizona Self Help - resource pre-screening tool

www.arizonaselfhelp.org

Health-e-Arizona - online SNAP (Food Stamp) application

www.healthearizona.org

Arizona 2-1-1 www.211arizona.org

Valley of the Sun United Waywww.vsuw.org

Arizona Department of Economic Security www.azdes.gov