Carol Michels
The ladies in Unit 15 started the new year out with a tour and lunch at the Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center.
Since 2011, Unit 15 has had a fundraiser for the food bank during the Christmas season. John and Diane Quinn started this very successful yearly tradition, and Sheila Ames now is carrying it on.
Many of us didn’t realize what was behind the doors of the Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center, so off we went. Kellie Tonks, the Outreach manager, gave us a walking/talking, detailed tour. These are a few of the things we discovered: Besides their community pantry, they offer many educational classes, including computer skills, an English-speaking course, cooking/nutrition classes, home outreach food delivery program, and school backpacking program, to name just a few. The most surprising discoveries were a welding workshop to offer potential occupational skills, a cardboard collecting and packing machine, and their beautiful raised beds garden in the rear of the building. All of these inspirational things happen with the help of more than 300 volunteers.
It was indeed a most interesting and informative day, topped off with a sit-down, comfortable, and amazing lunch prepared by Weezie Bryson and Xavier, the resident chefs.
True to their stated goal, the Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center is here “To build community and increase well-being through nutrition and health, family support, and workforce development.”