Matthew’s Crossing Provides Backpacks for Children

Ellen Engel

In Arizona, one in four children, one in five adults, and one in seven seniors do not have enough to eat. Matthew’s Crossing has many different programs to help these people. Many of these people are homeless. One program provides 1,500 backpacks every Friday of the school year containing enough food for two days, plus snacks to cover their weekend needs. Another program provides food pantries in high schools, community colleges, and at ASU that supply food for lunches. At the beginning of each week, volunteers deliver food and stock the shelves. Matthew’s Crossing hopes that their work means that no child goes hungry.

Reach Out Sun Lakes had a light collection in January due to only two of our venues reporting. Our Sun Lakes Bridge Club pickup was 95 pounds of food and $173.00. The Sun Lakes Unity Church totals were eight pounds of food and $127.00. Reach Out Sun Lakes collection totals for the year 2019 are 4465 pounds of food and $5,434.00. Totals collected for the last six years are 29,339.5 pounds of food and $26,937. Reach Out Sun Lakes and Matthew’s Crossing shout out a big Thank You to all who contribute to this cause that fights hunger. Congratulations also to our dedicated group of volunteers: Howard Lundgren, Kathy Downey, and Jim Meagher.

Membership in local clubs and congregations is not a criterion for contributing. In fact, many individual donors show up at these two club-sponsored pickup points from all over Sun Lakes. The Bridge Club pickup takes place at the Risen Savior Lutheran Church on Alma School Road from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, and the Sun Lakes Democratic Club accepts contributions on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Country Club.

For those who cannot make it to the formal pickup locations at specific times, a collection point is also open during normal business hours at the Sun Lakes Country Club near the front desk.

To arrange for ROSL to assist your Sun Lakes organization in its support for this very worthwhile program or for further information or to volunteer your own personal services, please contact Ellen Engel at 480-980-6841 or email her at [email protected].

Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, which is located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If this opportunity interests you, please call their volunteer coordinator at 857-2296.