Jim Meagher
Freedom of the press and of speech are great privileges we enjoy in our republic and are only a dream for a large portion of the world’s population. This became possible for us because on the fourth day of this month two hundred and fifty years ago fifty six men from thirteen colonies took a very great personal and collective risk. They created and signed a Document of Independence from the King of Great Britain that came to be called over time our “Declaration of Independence”. A little trivia about the signers is that Benjamin Franklin representing Pennsylvania was the eldest signer of that document at the very “young age” of seventy. He would have been a good prospect for the tennis or hiking clubs here at Sun Lakes.
So you may be thinking, what does that have to do with me writing a column each month promoting the essential work of a food bank that provides food to the working poor of the valley located right in our back yard here in Chandler, Ariz. I offer for your consideration that it has everything to do with it. These fifty six men represented their colonies and were authorized to sign a document that created a breach between them and the British Monarchy that would endure to this day. Nothing less than a Declaration of their Independence that would lead to all the freedoms named and guaranteed by our nation’s Constitution which was written and signed only eleven years later. How blessed and fortunate we are and the envy of the citizens of many countries throughout our planet.
Many are so envious of us that they go to extraordinary measures to have the same blessings for themselves and their loved ones as we enjoy. The people that we are causing to feel less than welcome in our country when their reason for taking the risks they have taken are similar to the ones our ancestors took sometime in the past two hundred and fifty years or so.
You can conveniently donate food during normal working hours at the Sun Lakes Country Club service desk in their Club House building or contact me by text or voice (Jim Meagher) at 630-346-1966, so I can assist you with a food pickup or information to make a financial donation. Also, Matthews Crossing has a website with information on events you can enjoy and financially benefit them at the same time. Check those out at their website which is matthewscrossing.org/events.
We are grateful to our partner Sun Lakes area organizations who have monthly food drives. Their members have provided nearly 1500 pounds of food as of today June 6. They are the Sun Lakes Country Club Community, The Unity Church of Sun Lakes, The Democratic Club of Sun Lakes and the Bridge club.