Ellen Engel

Anyone in need of food assistance can present a photo ID and register with Matthew’s Crossing to receive an Emergency Food Box each month. Emergency Food Boxes are comprised of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable foods designed to feed a family of four for up to three days. If perishable food is available, such as bread and milk, that will also be distributed. There are several programs available, including the backpack program that provides seven meals for children, which gives them food for the weekend.

Our two-month collection is as follows: Sun Lakes Bridge Club, 52.5 pounds of food and $735; Unity of Sun Lakes, 245 pounds of food and $500; and the SLCC food box, 61 pounds of food. The totals for 2022 so far are 619.5 pounds of food and $1,875. We hope that as our other pickup meetings open up live, we can increase the bottom line.

There are two drop-off places in Sun Lakes where you do not need to belong to any group. SLCC is one of them (food only). We moved the Matthew’s Crossing food box from next to the reception desk to the administrative office. If you are donating food to the SLCC food box, you need to bring it to the Administration desk during business hours. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to noon. They are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

You can also bring donations on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Pickups there take place at Risen Savior Lutheran Church on Alma School Road from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot. At this location, we are able to take food and cash donations.

We would like to increase our groups of donors. A small group combined with more can really make a difference. We are so grateful to our Sun Lakes community for the generous donations. Please consider a donation to Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank. Any amount would be so appreciated. Their address is 1368 Arizona Avenue, #112, Chandler, AZ 85225. If you are interested in volunteering with our Reach Out Sun Lakes group of volunteers or have any questions, please contact Ellen Engel at 480-980-6841.