For the past couple of years, Valley food banks have reported seeing an increase in people needing food. And due to the recession, they’re seeing individuals and families come in who have never sought such help before. To help meet the demand, United Food Bank of Mesa is seeking volunteer groups to sort donated non-perishable food.

When word got out through social media a few weeks ago that thieves had taken the tailgate right off a United Food Bank pickup truck in a Mesa parking lot, the community came together to make sure the vehicle’s cargo would be safe and sound on the Valley streets.

Volunteers from the Sun Cities who devote time to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Surprise don’t want Arizona children to go to bed hungry. They see the faces of hunger while others just see statistics.

Volunteers from the Sun Cities who devote time to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Surprise don’t want Arizona children to go to bed hungry. They see the faces of hunger while others just see statistics.

Charity Navigator has recognized United Food Bank with its highest four-star rating for efficiently feeding the hungry. According to the organization, 98.2 percent of all resources received by United Food Bank go toward programs to feed the hungry, the highest ratio in the state for food banks. With only 30 employees, United Food Bank distributed just shy of 16.7 million pounds of food last fiscal year, resulting in nearly 13 million meals for those in need.  That is a 29 percent increase over the previous year. Charity Navigator’s ratings can be found online at www.charitynavigator.org.

A Tempe food bank will reopen today in a bigger location to serve the growing number of East Valley families who need help with their food bills.

Mesa-based United Food Bank will deliver truckloads of food to people impacted by the Wallow fire in eastern Arizona.

Mesa-based United Food Bank will deliver truckloads of food to people impacted by the Wallow fire in eastern Arizona.

Mesa-based United Food Bank will deliver truckloads of food to people impacted by the Wallow fire in eastern Arizona.

With the shelves of United Food Bank nearly empty, the bank is asking for the public’s help to refill it with donations.

Jeanette Barrett almost cried last week when she noticed just how depleted the food supply is at the Valley View Community Food Bank.

“It’s a sign of the times, and everyone needs to get involved to help out,” said Barrett, a Sun Citian who volunteers her time at the food bank in Youngtown.

Jeanette Barrett almost cried last week when she noticed just how depleted the food supply is at the Valley View Community Food Bank.

“It’s a sign of the times, and everyone needs to get involved to help out,” said Barrett, a Sun Citian who volunteers her time at the food bank in Youngtown.

Jeanette Barrett almost cried last week when she noticed just how depleted the food supply is at the Valley View Community Food Bank.

“It’s a sign of the times, and everyone needs to get involved to help out,” said Barrett, a Sun Citian who volunteers her time at the food bank in Youngtown.

Boy Scouts delivered more than 120,000 pounds of food last week to Mesa’s United Food Bank following their annual Scouting for Food food drive. The food was much needed, United Food Bank reports. In December, the number of emergency food boxes distributed by the nonprofit’s agencies was up 89 percent over the previous year. More than 40 troops participated in the food drive.