Ellen Engel
In the only August collection of food and cash contributions for the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler by Reach Out Sun Lakes, volunteers collected a total of 291 pounds of staple foods and $10 in cash – a very nice response for a month in which almost everyone leaves town!
These numbers plus the totals from prior months will be added to the ever-growing total of cash and kind contributed by so many Sun Lakes residents.
Matthew’s Crossing serves over 600 needy Chandler families and 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 sixth year of service to The Crossing, is actively seeking additional volunteers to spend several hours a month helping to handle the collections at our donation locations and assisting with other simple tasks related to delivery to the food bank, program bookkeeping, etc.
The food bank itself, located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If interested, please call 480-857-2296 and join the many Sun Lakers who already donate time and effort at Matthew’s Crossing.
For 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 e-mail [email protected].