Association of Arizona Food Banks

Established in 1984, the Association of Arizona Food Banks (AAFB) is a private, non-profit organization serving five regional food banks and a network of nearly 1,700 food pantries and agencies. As one of the first state food bank associations in the nation, AAFB was instrumental in the developing a statewide gleaning project, and its advocacy efforts have brought about beneficial state and federal legislation for its member food banks and the people they serve.

AAFB develops food resources, promotes nutrition, advocates for public policy changes to help hungry people, fosters cooperation among food banks, networks with government, local, state and national leaders dedicated to ending hunger, and engages all sectors of society in hunger awareness and sensitivity.
 

On-going efforts include:

  • Coordinating the rescuing, transportation and distribution of food.
  • Providing effective public education about hunger issues.
  • Advocating for food security through sound public nutrition policy.
  • Serving as a source of information and expertise to increase awareness of hunger issues for the general public.
  • Improving and maintaining organizational effectiveness to maximize efforts to help hungry people.
  • Developing financial support, relationships and resources to better serve its members.
  • Expanding coalitions with other anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations.
  • Investigating new initiatives to preserve and expand food resources.

Facts About Food Hardship
One in five Arizona households (20.8%) in 2010 reported not having enough money to buy food that they needed during the prior twelve months for themselves or their family. This ranks Arizona 15th worst in the country, and worse than 2009, when Arizona ranked 17th with 20.5% of households struggling with food hardship. Nationwide, 18.0% of respondents reported food hardship in 2010, down from 18.5% in 2009.

In the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area, the food hardship rate was an even 20.0% in 2009-10, ranking it 38th out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country. This compares to a 19.8% food hardship rate in 2008-09, which ranked 27th.  In the Tucson area, the food hardship rate was 19.4% in 2009-10, ranking it 46th out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. This compares to an 18.8% food hardship rate in 2008-09, which ranked 37th.

Statewide, one in three Native American (36.6%), one in four Hispanic (26.2%) and one in five African American (22.4%) residents lived in poverty in 2009, compared with one in seven non-Hispanic whites (14.7%).  Maricopa County had an overall poverty rate of 15.2% in 2009, with 26.7% of Hispanic residents living in poverty, a 10.7% increase over 2008 (13.2%).

Association of Arizona Food Banks
2100 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-528-3434

www.azfoodbanks.org

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