It’s hard to imagine from 2006, two ladies and few bags of fruit, that the Sun Lakes Citrus Sharers is now over 200 volunteers, hundreds of homes, literally tons of fruit, and a very happy St. Mary’s Food Bank. We are so thankful for our volunteers and the Sun Lakes community for this yearly source of nourishment for the food bank. And it helps keep the yards clean and the pests away!

If you want to volunteer to pick or have fruit you would like gleaned and donated, please read all the way to the end. For our volunteers, both new and, well, old, please join us on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. in the Navajo Room in the Sun Lakes Country Club. Drive your carts and try to carpool as well. We will go over the plans for the season and get all the new pickers up to speed and on a team.

If you are not able to make the meeting but want to volunteer, please email [email protected], and we will get you assigned to a team. You can also follow along and look for updates on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/sunlakescitrussharers.

If you want your fruit picked, please call Gloria at 602-316-6415.

We only pick on Saturdays and Mondays. We will start on Saturday, Jan. 29, and conclude the season on Monday, Feb. 28. Picking runs between 8 a.m. and noon at the latest. Any help is appreciated—even an hour, so please do what you can! All the fruit is gathered at our “Citrus Central” located at 25825 S. 99th Drive, in Sun Lakes, Ariz. (it’s the only numbered street in Cottonwood). You may also drop off fruit during picking days from 8 a.m. until noon.