The Sahuarita Food Bank offers several food distribution programs, all of which are free. Our programs provide fresh and nutritious food to those who are most at risk—seniors, children, single parents with children, the disabled, and families where the primary provider is unemployed or underemployed.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION DAYS
Tuesday: 9 am - 1 pm
Wednesday: 9 am - 1 pm
Thursday: 1 pm - 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am - noon
Families can visit the food bank twice a month. Depending on family size, they will receive one or more food boxes on the first visit. On the second visit, visitors may choose from various canned items and dried goods. They can also choose from a wide assortment of produce, meat, and bread on both visits. And they will receive milk or eggs.
EMERGENCY FOOD
We distribute The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). TEFAP offers extra food to low-income individuals and families.
To be eligible for TEFAP boxes, families must fall within 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines based on family size. They must also provide proof of residence at their first of two monthly visits.
Each household can receive up to three food boxes. The boxes contain items such as rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, cereal, canned fruits or vegetables, peanut butter, and soup.
BACKPACK PROGRAM
Many studies show that hunger has a negative effect on performance and behavior of school students. This affects their success as adults.
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Our BackPack Program addresses this issue by providing weekend food bags to at-risk students. Each bag contains items such as shelf-stable milk, canned meats, applesauce or canned fruit, cereal, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a nutrition bar.
Eleven schools in Sahuarita, Continental, and Sasabe School Districts currently benefit from our program during the school year.
The BackPack Program receives funding from the Pima County Community Action Agency, Town of Sahuarita, area foundations, and individual donors.
COMMODITY SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP)
Seniors qualify for this program if they are sixty or over and their income is at or below 130 percent of poverty. At their first visit each month they will receive a box that contains 35 pounds of non-perishable food and two pounds of cheese. These are in addition to the TEFAP box(es) for which they are eligible.
COMMUNITY PANTRY
We partner with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona to operate a satellite pantry for Summit View residents twice a month from 3-5 pm on the second and fourth Mondays at the Summit View Elementary School. Annually, we distribute more than 66,000 pounds of non-perishable food and fresh produce and serve more than 7,000 residents at this location.
Home Delivery Program
The participants in this program cannot get to the food bank regularly as they may be limited by transportation and mobility issues. We deliver a variety of fresh produce, milk,
eggs, protein-rich foods, and shelf-stable food items twice a month.