St Mary's Westside Food Bank

Today was a day to give back to the community - just a little.

A dozen Keller Williams Realty agents met at St Mary's Westside Food Bank late this morning to volunteer our services. This is not about real estate - but it is about people.

For three hours we sorted donated food, checking for expiration dates - putting the "good" stuff in like-type bins and pitching the items that are unsafe.

I sorted out my pantry not long ago and was surprised to find items more than five years old. The oldest I found today at the food bank was a donated item with an expiration code from 1998 - it went to the circular file. So did a lot of other out-of-code items.

When you donate - and it is a good thing to do - watch for expiration dates. They'll take canned goods that are up to year year past "best sale date" but dry food is acceptable only one month past expiration date.

The numbers fed thanks to donated foodstuffs is staggering - only one state topped Arizona last year in feeding hungry people. You can help. The food bank is on Elm Street, just east of Dysart and south of Bell in Surprise.