Chris Erickson, VAS executive director, dressed as an avocado to promote the event (photo by Dallas Gibson)
Peggy McGee
Can’t get your fill of guacamole and salsa? There will be a solution for you on Friday, Sept. 12, at Tubac Golf Resort and Spa from 2 to 5 p.m. The Guac and Give is being hosted by Valley Assistance Services (VAS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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. There will be about 12 restaurants from Green Valley/Sahuarita, Tubac, Rio Rico, Nogales, and, hopefully, Tucson that will compete 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 persons 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 new 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. Tickets at $20 each may also be purchased from Quail Creek resident Peggy McGee who can be reached at 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 without leaving the golf resort will be offered. There will be 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 fundraiser.