1. Mesa United Way | October 25, 2012

2. Established in 1984. Coordinates advocacy/public policy on behalf of Arizona’s food banks. Helps promote hunger awareness and food bank activity. Operates the Arizona Statewide Gleaning Project.

3. In 2011:  Nearly 1 in 5 (19.0%) Arizonans live in poverty.  1 in 4 children (27.2%) live in poverty.  Federal poverty level: $22,350 for family of 4. 1/3 of Arizonans are “working poor” - live at 185% of the federal poverty level, likely unable to meet all basic needs: food, shelter, healthcare, etc. Minority groups disproportionately affected.  58.6% of all Arizona children qualify for free or reduced School Breakfasts and Lunches.

4. In 2011, in Maricopa County:  17.4% live in poverty.  25.1% of children live in poverty. In 2011, in Mesa:  16.9% live in poverty.  21.9% of children live in poverty.  58.42% of Mesa Public School Children qualify for free or reduced School Breakfasts and Lunches.

5. Food security means access by all members of a household at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life: The ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. Ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways – no relying on emergency food programs, scavenging, stealing, etc.

6. 1 in 5 Arizonans are food insecure. 29% of them are children under the age of 18 – almost 1 in 3! This ranks Arizona in the top 5 for worst child food insecurity rate. Food Hardship, based on Gallup polling, tracks similarly.

7. Serve all 15 Arizona counties. 123.2 million lbs distributed in FY 2011-12. 1.27 million emergency food boxes in FY 2011-12. 1,600 agencies statewide. Rely on volunteers.

8. More than 100,000 Emergency Food Boxes distributed each month. An average of 11 million lbs of food is distributed each month. Over 1.1 million individuals in Arizona receive SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits each month. Children and seniors make up over half. $29/week average individual benefit.

9. Pay rent Buy Rx’s Pay utilities Pay for car/transport Pay medical bills OR BUY FOOD! SNAP + food banks is not enough to meet the need. Approximately 17% of needed meals statewide are considered “missing.”

10. Located in Mesa, serves East Valley, Gila County, parts of Pinal, Navajo and Apache Counties. Provides approximately 40,000 meals each day. 161 agencies in Maricopa County. Provides them approximately 750,000 lbs of food each month. www.unitedfoodbank.org

11. Feeding America PPIP by County Calculation Rolling 12 Months October 2011 - September 2012 CountyST Total Pounds Distributed to County* 2009 Persons in Poverty Network Median PPIP UFB PPP in Poverty UFB % of Median APACHEAZ945,7693,17478.65297.97378.86% GILAAZ894,5436,57878.65135.99172.91% MARICOPAAZ11,818,481129,16578.6591.50116.34% NAVAJOAZ1,685,77112,87378.65130.95166.50% PINALAZ3,707,97329,61178.65125.22159.22% 19,052,537181,40178.65105.03155.16% Current Network Median PPIP = 78.65 Pounds *NOTE: Does NOT Include Food Given to Other Food Banks (Redistributed) **NOTE: "UFB PPP in Poverty" (Pounds Per Person in Poverty) Calculations Are Based On A Rolling 12 Months (October '11 - September '12)