Association of Arizona Food Banks Officially a Feeding America Partner State Association
The Association of Arizona Food Banks (AAFB) has entered into an official relationship with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, by becoming one of three inaugural Partner State Associations (PSAs). The other two state associations also becoming a PSA are the Texas Food Bank Network and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.
“It is a great honor to be one of the first Feeding America Partner State Associations,” said Ginny Hildebrand, AAFB president and CEO. “This is a great achievement for AAFB that will help us be stronger and more connected than ever to the national food banking network.”
Becoming a Partner State Association builds on a productive long-standing relationship AAFB has had with Feeding America for many years. As a PSA, AAFB will be able to more effectively coordinate initiatives and activities between our Feeding America food bank members, assist Feeding America in public policy advocacy, and more effectively leverage our knowledge, especially with our Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project and its produce distribution model. AAFB will also have the opportunity to mentor new state associations just starting out as well as those who are working toward becoming a Feeding America PSA.
Four of AAFB’s five member food banks are members of Feeding America: Community Food Bank in Tucson, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix, United Food Bank in Mesa, and Yuma Community Food Bank in Yuma.
Established in 1984, the Association of Arizona Food Banks is a private, non-profit organization serving five-member regional food banks (Community Food Bank, Desert Mission Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank) and a network of nearly 1,700 food pantries and agencies. As one of the first state associations in the nation, 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. For more information, to find a food bank or pantry in your area, or to learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.azfoodbanks.org.
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.
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