The giving spirit is alive and well in Phoenix, as local St. Mary's Food Bank calls upon the community for citrus donations, welcoming a bounty of backyard grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, and lemons through the end of March. As households across the Valley find their citrus trees heavy with ripe fruit, St. Mary's offers a chance to ensure that this natural abundance doesn't go to waste by opening their doors for generous contributions, according to a recent bulletin by AZFamily.com.
This initiative, part of the food bank's efforts to provide fresh produce to those in need, has coined “Citrus Saturdays” where the City of Glendale staff and volunteers are gearing up to accept fruit donations at Manistee Ranch Park and Sahuaro Ranch Park on January 13, 2024, reports First Food Bank; these events are slated to run between 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, creating a convenient opportunity for locals to drop off their donations and contribute to a cause that aids food security.
Continuing the charitable drive into February, St. Mary’s Food Bank staff and trucks will be stationed at various locations including Desert Garden United Church of Christ and Shepherd of the Hills UCC on February 3 and 10, between the hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, providing ample time for residents to participate in the food bank's mission.
Moving beyond individual drop-off points, the gleaning season has kicked off in the West Valley starting January 8 and running through March 29, 2024, where volunteer crews will make rounds to collect citrus directly from donors’ properties, allowing for an even wider net of contributions, the program is currently scheduling volunteers throughout the season with crews notifying homeowners before their arrival unless power lines or height restrictions prevent gleaning of certain trees, details First Food Bank.
