Matthew’s Crossing food drive

Ellen Engel

Jan Terhune, Executive Director of Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, says she is in awe of our friends who continue to step up their commitment to fight hunger. Hunger is real. One out of every four children does not know where their next meal is coming from. It doesn’t take a vacation or a holiday.

The totals for each of our major organizational donors for the month of August were as follows: Sun Lakes Duplicate Bridge Club, 17 pounds of food and $66.00; Sun Lakes Democratic Club, 62 pounds of food and $28.00; Sun Lakes Country Club, 103 pounds of food. The Sun Lakes Jewish Community and Unity of Sun Lakes are on summer breaks. So far this year, we have collected 2701.5 pounds of food and $2,928. Thank you, Sun Lakes.

Matthew’s Crossing serves over 600 Chandler families — so the need is great, 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. Other local organizations, including the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation and Unity of Sun Lakes, also make regular contributions and donations – and your organization can do so, as well.

Membership in local clubs and congregations is not a criterion for contributing. 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 from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, 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 Sun Lakes Country Club.

To arrange for Sun Lakes organizational support for this very worthwhile program, or to volunteer your own personal services, please contact Ellen Engel at 480-980-6841 or email her at [email protected].

Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, which is located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If this opportunity interests you, please call their volunteer coordinator at 857-2296.