Recent Events and What’s Ahead: February 2012
At last year’s community-wide Food Drive, volunteers collected, sorted, and transported tons of food to the Tri-Community Food Bank in Mammoth. (Photo by Rick Cato)
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Volunteers Needed; You Can Make a Difference– By Joan Roberts
It’s almost that time again. Mark your calendars for the annual SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Food Drive, which will be held Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 8:30am to noon. Last year, through your help and the generosity of our community, the SBCO Food Drive collected approximately 23,000 lb of food, which went a long ways to help feed the 900-plus infants, children, and seniors who regularly visit the Tri-Community Food Bank. Approximately 150 people participated in last year’s Food Drive, including many new volunteers. We thank the unit captains who distributed materials and collected donations as well as the sorters, packers and drivers. Unit captains arrived in trucks, station wagons and even a Smart Car to deliver the food. To volunteer, please contact Rich or Joan Roberts at 825-7577 or rhjsroberts@gmail.com.
This was truly a great community effort. Residents who send in cash donations helped the Food Bank as it networked with other organizations to make large, money-saving food purchases. A $1 donation will buy $10 of food. Note: Cynthia Chevalley of the Tri-Community Food Bank will be our guest speaker at the February 13 General Meeting.
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Click here to print donation form for the Kids’ Closet building fund
KIDS’ CLOSET GROUND BREAKING: A NEW ADDRESS COMING SOON
On January 23, the current Kids’ Closet in San Manuel re-opened for a new season. Of course, we can all hardly wait for the opening of the new Kids’ Closet building in Mammoth, which will be ready in late spring. Work has just begun, after a wonderful ground breaking ceremony on December 6. The official “groundbreakers” were students from the Mammoth STEM School located on the hill above the new Closet site. With kid-sized shovels and rakes, the team dug in and officially started the work on the Closet. Kids’ Closet VPs Pat Ford and Paula Morgan tell us that the new building will have a more closed design, which will be more energy efficient and will better serve the kids’ needs. Many of the students from the northern Pinal County towns and San Carlos will also have a much shorter bus ride to the Closet. We are receiving terrific support from the town of Mammoth and the contractors, and all the permits finally have been approved. So it’s on to the new building. (See also the Insert in this issue on the “Kick-Off Campaign 4 Kids’ Closet,” a new way that individuals can donate to the program and have their names on a permanent plaque in the new Kids’ Closet).
A story Pat Ford recently shared with us underscores the true meaning of the Closet. In addition to the continuing need for school clothing for students in the so-called “Copper Corridor” north of us and the San Carlos Indian Reservation, the all-volunteer staff also helps in emergency situations. Pat learned about a family of 9 kids who were facing a bleak Christmas, with no clothing, little food, and getting by in a tiny home that held 9 kids and 7 adults. It was just a few days before Christmas and the Adopt a Family program was already completed for the year. Pat and Bill sprang into action. Clothing for 8 of the kids could be obtained right at the Closet and Pat also bought bright clothing for a 2-year-old at the home. The “SaddleBrooke Santas” loaded up Christmas gifts, and a ham, potatoes, canned goods and blankets and off they went to San Carlos. Since they didn’t know the exact sizes of the kids involved, they took along 40 pairs of shoes, just to be sure! You know this story had a happy ending, thanks to Pat and Bill’s quick action. It’s another example of some of the ways Kids’ Closet volunteers go way beyond the ordinary to help young people and their families.
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Don’t Forget: The Treats and Talents Charity Auction Is March 21
This year’s auction will be held on Wednesday, March 21, from 5pm to 8pm in the Vistas Room at the SaddleBrooke Clubhouse. All the proceeds from this fun and creative evening will be used to support SaddleBrooke Community Outreach, Catalina Community Services, and other worthy charities that benefit children and families. Last year, the auction raised over $30,000, which was donated to many worthwhile causes, including:
$7,500 in college scholarships
$1,000 to the Mountain Vista School Junior National Honor Society trip to Washington, DC
$500 to the Kearney Book Shelf Reading Project
$1,000 for College for Kids
$1,000 for the Pre-K classes for at-risk and special needs children
$1,000 for the Summer Girls Camp
$1,000 for Club Read
$6,000 for San Carlos children and youth holiday gifts; $700 for winter blankets
For questions about donating items or services, or to make a donation, contact Ann Vernon (825-6804; ann.vernon@yahoo.com.) And, new this year is the Auction’s website: treatsandtalentsauction.weebly.com, which has information about donations, forms and deadlines for items. Remember, you may have a talent you can donate—a star party, a cooking class for men, and even a session on pie-baking. Call Ann for more information.
New Saturday Hours for the Golden Goose
Ann Coziahr reports that sales are brisk at the Golden Goose, and that new Saturday hours have been announced. Tthe new Saturday hours will be 9am to 2pm, and all other days will remain the same: 10am to 2pm. Ann reports that November sales were 6% ahead of last year. Go Goose, Go!
Volunteers are always needed and orientation for new volunteers is provided every Monday.
And, Don’t Forget Your Dues
Finally, annual dues are due—if you haven’t done so already, you can pay your dues right on the organization website, www.community-outreach.org. Click on the Join tab, and follow the instructions.
Special Scholarship Will Honor Former SBCO President Diana Herbst
We were all saddened by the recent death of former SBCO President Diana Herbst.
Since Diana always believed in the difference education could make in an individual’s life and was such a proponent of helping students in our surrounding communities get scholarships and educational help, the Board voted to provide a one-time $2500 scholarship in Diana’s name.
The Diana Herbst Scholarship will be offered this spring.