Oops to St Mary's

I forgot to attach the info on where this food bank is.

Glendale Office: 5605 N. 55th Avenue, one block north of Camelback Road.
Open Mon-Friday 8:00 to 3:00 p.m. They will take Cash or Debit Cards only.

Buckeye Office: 214 S. 5th Street. They are open Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The general information phone number is: 602-415-5474

Here is what they typically carry:
Pantry Box $13.00 (approx. 14-16 pantry items) Plus 1 free Bonus Box of donated items

Meat Pack $16.00 (6-4 oz Boneles skinless Chicken Breast, 1-16 oz Beef Chub, 1.5 lbs St Louis Ribs, 1 lb italian Sausage = 5.5 total lbs.) Plus 1 free Bonus Box of donated items

Griller $20.00 (2-6 oz Beef Sirloin Tip Filet, 1-16 oz Beef Chub, 4-40z Boneless Pork Chops, 2-4oz Pork Medallions or St Louis Ribs, 4-4 oz Boneless Chicken Breasts = 5.5 lbs total meat) Plus 1 free bonus Box of donated items

Variety Box $30 (this is what I got) (2-6 oz Beef Sirloin Tip Filet, 1-16 oz Beef Chub, 4-4oz Boneless Pork Chops, 2-4oz Pork Medallions or St Louis Ribs, 4-4 oz Boneless Chicken Breats and a Pantry Box, plus 2 free bonus boxes of donated items)

Meat Lovers $35.00 (6-4 oz boneless skinless chicken breat, 1-16 oz Beef Chub, 1.5 lbs St Louis Ribs, 1 lb Italian Sausage, 2-6 oz Beef Sirloin Tip Filet, 1-16 oz Beef Chub, 4 oz Boneless Pork Chops, 2-4oz Pork Medallions or St Louis Ribs, 4-4 oz Boneless Chicken Breasts plus 2 free Bonus Boxes of donated items)

The donated items are from stores like Fry's, Sam Club, Costco, etc...

St Mary's Food Value Club - Food Bank

My mom and my daughter’s wards both have been announcing info about the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance program called “Food Value Club”. This is a program regardless of race, income, citizenship can go and purchase boxes of food for a nominal amount of money. They were encouraged to go and use it...otherwise they might stop the program if people are not using it.

So on Wednesday afternoon my mom, my sister-in-law (Misty) and I went to the one at 5605 N. 55th Avenue in Glendale today and purchased the $30 box. I also picked up two trays of Lasagna for $3.00 each. Apparently the money we spend on the boxes off sets the price of the boxes a bit so they can give some boxes out to those on food stamps for free. After looking at all this food that I paid $36 total for a value of $100.00 had I gone to a store.

I have taken photos from 4 different angles so you can see what we EACH got.

Here is the written list of what was in the boxes:

10 tomatoes
bag of oranges
bag of grapefruit
2 large Acorn Squash
Romaine Lettuce

2 boxes of Saltines
2 loaves of bread
1 loaf of French bread
blueberry muffins
1 bag hot dog buns
1 bag of hamburger buns

3 tins of Butter Cookies
1 tin of Peppermint Bark (chocolate on bottom, peppermint on top…waaayyyy yummy!)
Marzepan (sp?) in box from Germany

2 French’s Mustard
1 small jar of peanut butter
1 can green beans
1 can mandarin oranges
1 can mushroom soup
1 can diced tomatoes
2 boxes of Macaroni & Cheese “shell” style
1 bag of Corn Flakes cereal
2 cans of tuna fish

1 lb pinto beans
3 lbs pasta noodles

Box of Meat:
1 lb of hamburger
2 -6oz Beef Sirloin Tip Filet
1-16 oz Beef Chub
4-4oz Boneless Pork Chops
3 skinless chicken breasts

Glade oil plug in with refill – Apple Cinnamon scent

24 bottles of Tiger Gatorade (looks like grape flavor)

Then the 2 – 2 lb meat sauce Lasagna that I bought in addition.

The Food Bank order form I have attached has two locations you can go. Notice the Buckeye site takes ONLY CASH. The Glendale site takes Cash and Debit cards ONLY. We tried the Glendale site today. There is enough food for a family for a week with what we got today. I will probably try the Buckeye place in 2 weeks and see if it is different or similar. There are several sites in the West Valley. You can call the info line for more details 602-415-5474. You can also check out the web link http://www.firstfoodbank.org/locations.html

Here is a news clip on this program: http://www.abc15.com/content/news/smartshopper/story/How-to-get-100-worth-of-groceries-for-only-30/aQuTZQT7aUil5dAiV-9sjA.cspx

Blessing Grandchild #8...Little Noelle

Sunday was a very special day for the Arizona family again. Little Noelle Heidi Larkin was blessed by her wonderful dad, Jace! He talked about how special her name is "Noelle" which means Christmas. She is to remember the special qualities of Christmas and to exemplify them in her life as she grows. It was wonderful and she was beautiful and peaceful through it all. It was also very touching to see all that Priesthood power in the circle...Grandpa Curtis, Uncle Jason, Uncle Peter, Uncle Warren and her dad and Bishop McClaws.

Below is the photo taken after the blessing at the Larkin home in the backyard (before everyone ate). Grandma Gibb (my mom) was there along with my sister, Connie, but they were taking this photo for us...so they didn't get in the picture.

Here is sweet Noelle. She is so precious!

This is the Larkin Family: Haven (2) is in Jace's arms, Noelle (nearly 2 mo) in Heidi's arms,

with Christian (4) and Haley (she turned 6 yesterday!) in the front.

We are blessed with incredible children who are teaching their young to walk in the ways of the Lord. Who could ask for anything more?!