Ellen Engel

In the two August collections of food and cash for the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, our loyal volunteers collected from only two local organizations because of summer suspensions by some of our other regular contributors.

The Sun Lakes Bridge Club contributed 52 pounds of food and $65 in cash, while the Sun Lakes Democratic Club tallied 224 pounds of food and $30 in cash. The August total, therefore, was 276 pounds of staple foods and $95 in cash — a very nice response for a month in which almost everyone leaves town! This month’s donations have brought nearly four tons of foods (like rice, beans, cereals and canned goods) and total cash of well over $2,200 to needy 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 seventh year of service to The Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, is actively seeking additional volunteers to spend several hours a month helping to handle collections at our donation locations and handling tasks related to delivery to the food bank, bookkeeping, etc. This need increases as our winter residents return in the fall.

The food bank itself, located at 1368 Arizona Avenue in Chandler, also needs volunteers on a regular basis. If you are interested in being of service, please call 480-857-2296 and join the many Sun Lakers who already donate time and effort at Matthew’s Crossing.

For further 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].