A vast crew of volunteers efficiently received, sorted and boxed 25,500 pounds of food donated by SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch residents.
2019 Food Drive breaks all records
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) and Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB) are grateful to the SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch residents who supported this year’s food drive. This year’s effort to fight hunger among residents of Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle brought in more than $68,000 in cash donations (a 32% increase over last year’s record) and just over 25,500 pounds of food (also larger than last year’s record). Tremendous support from our communities made this year’s Food Drive such a success.
Cynthia Chevalley, Chairperson of TFB, stated, “The Board and I are so very appreciative of the response to the SBCO Food Drive. The food donations and the money raised will help to meet the needs of our clients for five or six months, supplemented by food items purchased by TCFB, including protein rich meat and chicken. SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch residents generously help improve the lives of many people, including 531 children and 301 seniors living in our service area. Each month we provide emergency food boxes to more than 300 families, including more than 950 people. We are deeply grateful to all who supported this Food Drive.”
SBCO and TFB also appreciate the efforts of the more than 200 volunteers from SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch, along with members of two Rotary Clubs, who made the Food Drive possible. A large number of volunteers are needed to publicize the event in each unit, pick up donations, sort the donated food and deliver it to the Food Bank in Mammoth. Four boys and their counselor from Sycamore Canyon School worked for three hours helping to unload the delivery trucks.
If you would like to contribute your food, money or time to next year’s SBCO Food Drive, mark your calendar now; the next Food Drive will be held on March 21, 2020. Volunteers are needed both for the day of the event to help with sorting and packaging, as well as Unit Captains to distribute flyers and pick up donations. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Andrea Stephens at 818-9306 or send an email to [email protected].
SBCO recycles a sea of aluminum cans
Over nearly two decades, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) has recycled donated aluminum cans to raise funds for clothing, food and educational programs that benefit children in nearby communities. To date, this program has raised almost $50,000, but just as importantly, it has kept a tidal wave of recyclable cans from reaching the landfill.
To recycle bags or boxes full of aluminum cans, simply turn off Ridgeview at the driveway for 40007 S. Ridgeview Drive (a green sign marks this as the entrance to pickleball parking). The recycling container is located on the left as you drive in from Ridgeview toward the pickleball courts and RV parking area. Simply drive up to the recycling bin and deposit the cans. Please be sure to take your bag, box or other container home with you since items other than aluminum cans in the bin result in an extra handling fee. Every three or four months, the container is replaced and SBCO reaps the rewards of your recycling efforts.
A young student proudly showed off her Kids’ Closet clothing selections.
Kids’ Closet provides school attire to local children
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
For the past 23 years Kids’ Closet has been providing children with new school clothing to raise their self-esteem and encourage school attendance. Twice each school year, in the fall and spring, thousands of students from rural nearby communities arrive at the Kids’ Closet in Mammoth to choose new clothing. Children eligible to receive free meals at their pre-school or school are referred to the program.
In the 2018-19 school year, 2,983 students in pre-school, elementary and junior high/middle schools received clothing from Kids’ Closet. Students came from Head Start programs and 14 schools in nine communities. In the fall, each student chooses three pair of pants, three long-sleeve shirts, a jacket, a knit hat and gloves, a pair of shoes, six pair of socks, six pair underpants, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and two books.
In the spring, each student selects three pair of shorts, three short-sleeve shirts, a sweatshirt, a pair of shoes, six pair of socks, six pair underpants, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and two books.
A dedicated group of volunteers works hard to assist so many children. All tasks associated with buying, unpacking, tracking, stocking and inventorying the clothing and books, as well as managing finances are performed by volunteers. Whenever the Kids’ Closet is open, a volunteer serves as a student’s “personal shopper,” helping to ensure the selected clothing fits. Volunteers also manage communication with school counselors, ensuring that permission slips are received and every student “shopper” receives the assistance needed.
If you would like to volunteer your time and talent to Kids’ Closet, please contact Melanie Stout at [email protected] or 406-261-9850 for more information.
Mike and Sandy Gianotti expanded their home by eight feet to accommodate a larger kitchen area, with spectacular results.
Remodeling projects featured in 2019 SBCO Home Tour
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
The 2019 SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) Home Tour proved to be as overwhelmingly popular as the previous year’s event. All 300 admission tickets were sold in the first three hours of sales. Attendees and docents were able to see a variety of floor plans that had been transformed and personalized through skillful remodeling and design updates.
SBCO appreciates the support of the gracious homeowners who generously opened their residences for the tour: Jo Ann and Bob Collier, Russ and Laura Farson, Ann Fraley and Tony Muscat, Sandy and Mike Gianotti, Mary and Mark Hojnacki, Wanda Ross and Richard and Nancy Sartor.
Canyon Cabinetry & Design, Northwest Builders, Red Earth Tile & Stone, SaddleBrooke Remodeling and Three-Day Blinds sponsored the tour. A legion of volunteer docents helped direct traffic, check tickets and assist attendees. SBCO is deeply grateful to them all.
Through ticket sales and sponsorships, SBCO raised more than $7,000 to support a variety of programs for children in nearby communities. Based on the interest in this year’s tour, the next Home Tour will again feature remodeled residences. If you would like to offer your home for the 2020 tour or serve as a docent, please send an email to Trish Parker at [email protected].