Chris Erickson, VAS Executive Director,
was an Avocado for the Day at last year’s
Guac and Give. (Photo by Dallas Gibson)
Peggy McGee
Last year, the guacamole and salsa competition involving 15 local restaurants was so successful that Valley Assistance Services decided to do it again. Because the facility became too crowded last year, they are moving to a larger venue. This year’s Guac and Give will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Borderlands Unitarian Universalist (UU), 15 County Line Rd in Amad, also known as the Arizona Territory location. Heading south on I-19, get off at Exit 48, Amado, and turn left. Cross the frontage road and you will see the long green building. That’s the Borderland UU.
The Guac and Give is being hosted by Valley Assistance Services (VAS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves the greater Green Valley area as well as towns along the I-19 corridor in Santa Cruz County.
VAS is sponsoring the guacamole and salsa competition to raise funds for its many programs, especially those in Santa Cruz County. They are anticipating 20 restaurants from Green Valley/Sahuarita, Tubac, Rio Rico, Nogales, and Tucson will be competing against one another to see who can whip up the best guac and salsa. And it will be you, the tasters, who will decide on the winner in each category.
About 7,000 people in our community will benefit from the proceeds of this event. VAS’ services are administered by VAS staff and operated through the efforts of staff and a myriad of volunteers. These include a Registered Nurse program that provides health and wellness advocacy as well as fall prevention; volunteer drivers who transport clients for medical visits, grocery shopping and other needs; financial assistance for mortgage/rent/utilities and financial education; workforce training that includes resume writing, career search, computer lab, and job interview coaching; Federal and state benefits advocacy; dementia education; caregiver support and illness/disease education and prevention; volunteer-led senior peer groups; and a telemedicine van that travels to rural areas of Santa Cruz County.
Tickets for the event will be sold at Nancy Pantz in the Continental Mall, Posada Java, Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce and at VAS, 3950 S Camino del Heroe in the Springs HOA and at Tumacookery in Tubac. Tickets are $20 each and may also be purchased from Quail Creek resident Peggy McGee, positivelypeggygv@gmail.com or 520-207-6188. It’s cash or check only from the vendors but tickets may also be purchased using a credit card online at valleyassistanceservices.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $25 each.
In addition to having the opportunity to taste lots of guac, an opportunity to shop in Tubac will be offered with several vendors from the Tubac area selling a variety of products. They will accept cash and credit cards.
For more information or if you have any questions about the Guac Bowl, please contact guacandgive@valleyassistanceservices.org. Please consider joining VAS for this fun-filled fund raiser.