Bashas’ grocery store in Catalina has been a good friend to the Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB), for more than 10 years. Most mornings when the food bank is open, volunteers drive our van to Bashas’ to pick up food donations. TCFB receives bakery items such as bread, rolls, bagels, pies, cakes and cookies. On some days, there is also milk and yogurt. In addition, Bashas’ maintains a donation box in their store for the TCFB, where shoppers can put food donations at any time.
The TCFB is also a customer of Bashas’, ordering most of our grocery purchases from the Catalina store at a discount. Karen Nybeck, a TCFB Executive Board Member who handles inventory for the food bank, says “Bashas’ (store as a whole) are always the nicest place to deal with. When you walk in wearing a “TCFB” t-shirt…. everyone speaks and smiles… because they know we are helping the community up north.”
One of the challenges the Tri-Community Food Bank faces is how to handle the large volume of cardboard that comes with unpacking many boxes and cartons of supplies. Once again, Bashas’ helps out by letting us use their compactor and recycle the cardboard.
Bashas’ store Director, Shawn Dorsey, and bookkeeper, Cindy Davis, both expressed support for the food bank, and are happy to be a part of our mission to feed our neighbors in southeast Pinal County. Thank you Bashas’ for your “service with a smile” to the entire community, and in particular to our hungry neighbors!
The Tri-Community Food Bank has always been an all-volunteer organization, spending zero percent on administration costs. We need ongoing and substitute volunteers, especially during the summer months. To volunteer, please call the Food Bank at (520) 487-2010, during business hours. The TCFB is located at 108 Redwood Road, in Mammoth, and is open five days a week (Monday to Thursday and Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. We serve the communities of Oracle, San Manuel, Mammoth and Dudleyville. We are an IRS 501c3 non-profit corporation and an Arizona Qualifying Charitable Organization.
