Jerry Fay
Debbie McGeehan
Every year Jerry and Cheryl Fay give of their time to raise money for the Salvation Army. They are members of the SaddleBrooke Tennis Club and active members of SaddleBrooke Community Church.
How do they raise money? Jerry lines up volunteers to work a shift or more ringing the bell at the red kettle in front of Bashas’ grocery store. Shifts are two hours and start around the end of November through Christmas Eve. The money raised in the red kettles serves more than 25 million people in need each year. Cheryl assists Jerry wherever a shift needs to be filled.
It is amazing how a smile and a warm greeting encourage shoppers to give more generously! Many SaddleBrooke residents shop at Bashas’, which makes the two-hour shift pass quickly.
Jerry also runs the shoe donation program. He has collected over 5,000 pairs for the homeless. When Jerry has collected 15 to 20 pairs, he takes them to SaddleBrooke residents Jack and Jeannie Hepner. Every Sunday they take them to the Z Mansion located in downtown Tucson at 288 North Church Avenue, where breakfast is served to the less fortunate. The container for shoes is now stored under the cabinet by the ice machine on the patio at SaddleBrooke One. Shoes are collected from SaddleBrooke Tennis Club and SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association players.
We can all live by Audrey Hepburn’s quote: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
If you would like to volunteer to ring the bell when the holidays arrive, text Jerry Fay at 520-275-2832 and he will put you on his contact list! If you would like to donate, save your tennis shoes or any decent shoes you may not use anymore and place them in the container at the Tennis Center!
Thank you, Jerry, for your dedication to a truly important mission and to your assistant and wife Cheryl! Thank you to Jack and Jeannie and to all our Tennis Club members who support this program by donating your shoes!