Annual Fall Food Drive Kicks Off September 28th at Reid Park Zoo

ICS will launch the 2024 Fall Food Drive in preparation for the holiday season on September 28th from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Reid Park Zoo. Donate 3 boxes or cans of pantry staples, holiday non-perishables, or pet food for ICS partner Cody’s Friends, and get $1 off a zoo ticket.

The Fall Food Drive will run from September 28th through October 31st, 2024. ICS invites members of the community to donate any holiday food items such as instant potatoes and yams, canned cranberries, canned veggies; green beans and corn, boxed and bagged stuffing mix, boxed baking mixes (Bisquick, Jiffy cornbread mix, etc.), gravy packets, and canned pumpkin.

Other high-need food bank items are peanut butter, canned meats (tuna, chicken, and Spam), meals in a can like chili and ravioli, canned fruit and veggies, and canned pasta sauce and pasta.

“Food donations are more than just a meal; they are a lifeline for families in crisis,” says Tom McKinney, CEO of ICS. “Addressing this immediate need lays the foundation for stability and resilience, ultimately fostering a stronger and more connected community.”

ICS food banks have seen a significant increase in demand over this time last year. According to the October 2023 Census Bureau’s Pulse Survey, nearly 28 million adults nationwide were living in homes where there was not enough food to eat in the last week. Rising food prices continue to stretch the limits of family budgets, and food banks nationwide are expanding services to keep up with growing demand.

Visit https://www.icstucson.org/fallfood for more information about the 2024 Fall Food Drive.