38,133 is the number of beef meals provided by the Arizona Beef Council’s second “Beef Up Arizona” campaign with a mission to provide beef meals to hungry Arizonans over the 2022 holiday season.  

T-shirt and sticker sales, displaying a custom-designed beefy graphic, raised $2,128.78 to be donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Additionally, the campaign received a big boost from JBS, USA’s Tolleson beef plant’s donation of 4,356 pounds of ground beef that went directly to St. Mary’s Food Bank to provide high-quality protein to those in need.

The campaign highlighted the importance of beef in a healthy diet while supporting efforts to address food insecurity in the state. Providing more than 10 essential nutrients including protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins, beef is an important part of a healthful and nourishing diet. A nutrient-dense food, beef packs a lot of nutrition in each bite. For example, almost half of one’s daily protein requirements can be fulfilled in one 3-ounce serving of beef.

Distributing nearly 300,000 meals a day, St. Mary’s Food Bank distributes food to over 900 partner agencies to serve Arizonans in need. 2 million Arizonans are faced with food insecurity every year, and 1 in 4 children grow up food insecure (source: Feeding America). St. Mary’s has been distributing food at record levels since 2020 – more than 10 million pounds of food per month to meet the increased need in the community. The food bank’s wide reach and efficiencies allow every dollar donated to provide 7 meals.

“In this program’s second year, we wanted to continue to address hunger in Arizona, especially during these times of inflation and tighter food budgets,” shared ABC Chairman Tim Cooley, cattle feeder. “Ranchers and farmers are proud to raise nutritious beef and the community is generous when it comes to helping their neighbors. What a great way to show pride in our state’s beef industry with a cool shirt or sticker while helping to put beef on the tables of those in need.”

The eye-catching design and t-shirts were in collaboration with Arizona’s popular clothing apparel company State Forty Eight. The “Beef Up Arizona” design featured State Forty Eight’s signature Arizona outline while incorporating grilling and beef imagery. State Forty Eight gives back to their community by helping local businesses and non-profits show their local pride.    

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About the Arizona Beef Council

The Arizona Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors representing cattle growers, cattle feeders, and dairy farmers, and are appointed by the Governor of Arizona. These volunteers oversee Arizona’s beef checkoff and checkoff-funded programs.