Ellen Engel
Collections of food and funds from generous Sun Lakes residents in early February by Reach Out Sun Lakes (ROSL) volunteers are proceeding at a rate at least equal to that of last year — an encouraging sign, indeed — and February collections are still coming in as we reach the newspaper’s deadline for this edition.
ROSL volunteers collected 152.5 pounds of staple foods. In addition, cash donations added another $585 of purchasing power to the local food bank that serves over 600 needy Chandler-area families.
We invite you to join us; new donors are always welcome, and we are always actively seeking additional volunteers to spend several hours a month helping to handle the collections at our donation locations and assisting with other tasks related to deliveries to the food bank, program bookkeeping, etc.
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 club-sponsored pickups 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, 12:30—1:20 p.m.
The Sun Lakes Democratic Club accepts contributions on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Country Club (SLCC).
And finally, 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). Several Sun Lakes religious organizations also contribute regularly. Among them is the Sun Lakes Jewish Community and Unity of Sun Lakes.
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 to this worthy cause.
For general 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 send an email to [email protected].