Reach Out Sun Lakes continues to produce for Matthew’s Crossing

Ellen Engel

In the early September collections of food and cash for the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, our loyal volunteers collected from only two local organizations because of summer suspensions by some of our other regular contributors.

The Sun Lakes Bridge Club (SLBC) contributed 76 pounds of staple foods and $359 in cash, while the Unity of Sun Lakes congregation contributed $121. Other September collections, on the 12th and beyond, will be reported next month.

The high SLBC donation of $240 amount is the result of a memorial donation to a recently deceased member, Deb Watson. Her memory is well served by this thoughtful tribute because Matthew’s Crossing serves over 600 needy Chandler families, and this donation will purchase enough staple food for nearly 500 meals.

Any Sun Lakes resident may contribute at established pickup points sponsored by the Sun Lakes Duplicate Bridge Club and the Sun Lakes Democratic Club. Membership in these clubs is not a criterion. 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 on the first Monday of each month from 12:30—1:20 p.m. and the Sun Lakes Democratic Club accepts contributions on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Country Club (SLCC).

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 SLCC clubhouse for people who cannot make their drop-offs at the regular time(s).

Reach Out Sun Lakes, now well into its eighth year of service to Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, is actively seeking additional volunteers to spend several hours a month helping to handle collections at our donation locations and performing tasks related to deliveries to the food bank, bookkeeping, etc. This need increases each year at summer’s end when our winter residents return.

The food bank itself, located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If you are interested in being of service, please call 480-857-2296 and join the many Sun Lakers who already donate time and effort at Matthew’s Crossing.

For further information, to arrange for your organization’s support of this worthwhile program, or to volunteer as a collector, please contact Ellen Engel at 480-802-0425 or email [email protected].