Thanks to the many people who helped with Art at the Lakes this year, $5,200 was raised for the Sun Lakes Emergency Relief Fund!

Art at the Lakes, held March 5, was alive with artists, food, music and raffle items! Firemen sold better than ever with their grilled hotdogs and hamburgers. Raffle items included about $5,000 worth of merchandise and services. Many commented that they enjoyed seeing more true artists this year. The artists’ comments included that they sold better.

A big, huge thank you to all of our sponsors. Our local Safeway donated an all-inclusive food voucher so that the Sun Lakes firefighters could cook up those tasty burgers and hotdogs. In addition, Safeway started in the wee hours of the morning, making the hamburger patties in order that they would be fresh. Brandon Johnson of the Sun Lakes Fire Department reported that most of their sales were from the combo meals. They were such a bargain and yummy!

Raffle tickets went toward merchandise such as a Lenovo computer by Cloud Blue, an Epson printer from Rightway Roofing, an esthetically-pleasing Italian basket from the Oakwood Artists, a beautifully crafted salad set from local artisans, and a gift basket from Kneaders, to name a few.

This event has become quite a community affair thanks to you. Local sponsors donated commodities or money. Different organizations and clubs from around the area donated baskets, money or services. Individual residents donated hundreds of dollars’ worth of raffle items.

Where does all the money go? Firefighters receive the money but they are only the guardians of the fund. When they get a call to respond to an emergency, the firefighters are the ones who may see an immediate need; they are then able to disburse funds based on each situation. So in other words, funds raised by us (the community) comes back to us, based on need. Isn’t that great?

Have an enjoyable and safe summer!