Sahuarita Food Bank

09/25/2026

It couldn’t come at a better time, as SFB-CRC continues to build its capacity for skilled training programs. The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco announced in September a generous grant that we will apply to our Saguaro Skills Center.

We are so grateful to Vantage West CU, who submits grant requests on behalf of their own non-profit partners, to make this possible for us two years in a row. It enables us to apply for a matching grant to increase student numbers and facilities for our Fundamentals of Welding program and move quickly into construction skilled trades in partnership with the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA), as well as building facilities management skills. SAHBA CEO David Godlewski provided immeasurable help in connecting us with Home Builders Institute - HBI for instructor certification, construction curricula, and industry-recognized certifications for successful students.

“Vantage West is proud to support the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center,” said VP of Community Impact Jon Bruflat, “as it expands the Saguaro Skills Center and creates more pathways to nationally recognized skilled-trades certifications. This investment reflects the power of community partnership—helping Carlos and his team bring a bold workforce-development vision to life while strengthening localized economic advancement for families across Southern Arizona.”

The San Francisco bank awarded $10 million to 72 projects in Arizona, Nevada, and California as part of its Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) program. The grants are intended to create and enhance economic development and “help create a brighter future for the low to moderate income people, neighborhoods, and communities,” they announced.

They described our plans to invest these dollars as follows:
The Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that combats poverty and food insecurity through an integrated approach that combines emergency food assistance, family support services, and workforce development programs. This project will expand the existing mobile skilled-trades training program by increasing welding training capacity and launching new national certification pathways in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and facilities management. AHEAD funds will mainly support a part-time instructor and training equipment.

09/22/2026

🎟️ Every Ticket Makes a Difference

SAHBA's Building Futures Raffle is about more than prizes. It's about investing in our community.

With 50+ incredible prizes to win, every ticket purchased helps make a positive impact across Southern Arizona. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Marana Food Bank and Sahuarita Food Bank's Saguaro Skills Center, helping provide skills training and opportunities that strengthen our workforce and community.

Ticket proceeds also help SAHBA support efforts that strengthen the building community and improve housing opportunities throughout Southern Arizona.

🏠 Support the raffle. Support the community. Help us build brighter futures. ✨

🎟️ Get your tickets today!
go.rallyup.com/sahba

👉 Learn more about the raffle and sponsorship opportunities.
sahba.org/raffle

09/19/2026

Come see us at the Preparedness Fair!

We are taking donations and teaching you about our programs!

Saturday, September 19th
9 AM - 1PM at the Green Valley Recreation Center

1111 S GVR Drive Green Valley, AZ 85614

09/18/2026

What a wonderful evening at Sahuarita's State of the Town event! Huge thanks to our incredible partners at Vantage West CU and San Miguel High School - Tucson for believing and investing in our community. Arizona State Senator Gabaldón, your support means the world to us. And a special shoutout to Mayor Tom Murphy for spotlighting Saguaro Skills Center. So proud to see our vocational school recognized!

09/18/2026

Yesterday's Sahuarita State of the Town event was a blast! 🙌 Loved seeing our friends and supporters from the Town of Marana.

09/11/2026

We won't be parked in front of the Food Bank tonight! If you want some tasty food, come see us at the Sunset market at Sahuarita Lake Park!

If you're looking for us today, we won't be in our normal spot! We will be at the Sunset Market at Sahuarita Lake Park! Stop by and say hi!

08/29/2026

Connecting Employers with Job Seekers

Employment and training providers met face to face with job seekers at another successful job fair hosted by Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce and SFB-CRC at our Community Resource Center last Wednesday afternoon.

This kind of event is superior in so many ways to merely logging submitted resumes online, employers agreed. It was an opportunity for both sides of job market challenges to be able to meet and assess potential in a more person to person experience right off the bat.

Prospects are more and more aware that high paying jobs are hard to come by without expert training, so skilled training and certification opportunities were also on display at the fair. Both Pima Community College’s Fast Track program and their Workforce Development Department were on hand, along with Green Valley Cooling and Heating training center, and of course, our Saguaro Skills Center.

“I was excited,” said job seeker James, “to hear about PCC’s optics assembly program, the number of jobs requiring that skill, and the opportunity to earn up to six figures.”

Twenty businesses with open positions reported fruitful contact with candidates, and several participants expressed interest in our welding skilled trades program through our Saguaro Skills Center, including a woman who gained interest after her brother successfully completed the training.

“It was great working with the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center and our shared workforce development focus,” Chamber CEO and President Randy Graf shared. “I was so pleased with the wonderful response of the area employers with open positions.”

Amy Malkin of Arroyo Gardens said she was especially appreciative for the chance to have personal interaction while she is looking for caregivers to judge who has the interpersonal skills to work with residents in an assisted living setting.

The last job fair we hosted, the Community Water Company hired Richard for an entry level position, and it led to a solid career and newfound financial stability for him.

“What a great decision that was,” recalls Community Water President and General Manager Arturo Gabaldon. “Since then, he (Richard) has earned seven certifications and has increased his pay level by $8 per hour. He bought a house last year.”

That’s the kind of success story that makes our efforts to connect employers and workers so worth it. It’s more than that, though. “It also created great networking opportunities and community building among the employers,” Tara Staton from HDS Truck Driving Institute explained. She and other employers agreed it was the “most fun job fair we have ever attended.”

08/18/2026

Vlecks Volunteer Variety Show

They’re willing to do it all. Carol Vleck is a long-term volunteer and has worked for us in a variety of ways, almost from the time the food bank first started operations. She recruited her husband David when she discovered, as she put it, “I needed his strength to help with food rescue.” Sometimes sporting a tee shirt that declares his knowledge and interest in amphibians and reptiles, David follows Carol’s lead of stepping up with virtually any challenge he sees that needs to be addressed.

The couple emphasizes the strength of the relationships they have built with the staff at each store they visit. They make four stops despite the heat, but they also shine after they get the food back to the food bank. They organize what they collect with Carol working in the kitchen sorting, while David will often pick up a broom.

They also work at The Paton Center for Hummingbirds, cleaning all the feeders every other Friday. The Vlecks embody a quality cherished by any non-profit trying to help others. They’re volunteers who work hard in a variety of ways behind the scenes, never looking for credit. They unselfishly do whatever needs to be done—together.

08/11/2026

📢 Are you looking for work opportunities?

Join us at our Skills & Job Fair on August 26, 2026, and meet employers who are ready to hire!

08/11/2026

Sunday Service Brings

Monday Lifeline

Mary and Mike LaFond volunteer in food distribution, but Sundays after church they head out to rescue food. Mary has been with us four years, and Mike joined two years ago. Recently the couple rescued 546 pounds from the Duval Mine Road Safeway, nearly breaking the 630-pound record for collection. Mary also stops at Dollar Stores, looking for special items while honing her bargain shopping skills.

“We started rescuing food,” Mary said, “because we couldn’t stand the prospect of edible produce and other food going to a landfill just because no one was able to pick up on Sundays.”

Another reward SFB-CRC enjoys from their Sunday work is lots of bakery items and produce, and their efforts ensure there is always sufficient food for our Monday home delivery program that provides food twice a month to people who cannot get to the food bank. These are participants who are ill, recovering from surgery, or lack mobility or transportation.

Sundays are typically a time to relax, spend time with family or hobbies, but this couple shares the common purpose of using their Sundays to keep making a difference. They battle the heat and the physical challenges of food rescue in order to nourish our neighbors while they reduce waste and help build a better environment for everyone.