Volunteers Delivered Thanksgiving Baskets to Local Families
Thanksgiving basket volunteers who delivered baskets to Mountain Vista School in Oracle: Back row (left to right): Mona Sullivan (co-chair), Steve Groth, Karen Hamar, Leonard Hamar, and Mark Liefke (co-chair); front row (left to right): Bud Fairbanks, Patricia Tewksbury, and Ted Pierce
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
The Thanksgiving holiday was made brighter for many families in Oracle, San Manuel, and Mammoth due to the efforts of SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO). Just before Thanksgiving, SBCO volunteers in SaddleBrooke, chaired by Mona Sullivan and Mark Liefke, assembled and delivered 62 holiday food baskets to Oracle residents: 37 to the Mountain View School and 25 to the Wellness Center. These baskets were delivered on Nov. 21.
SaddleBrooke Ranch residents, led by Karen Lanning and Tim Bowen, assembled 30 baskets for the San Manuel/Mammoth Unified School District. These baskets were delivered on Nov. 22. This SaddleBrooke Ranch effort represents an expansion of the Thanksgiving Basket program.
Each holiday basket was filled with traditional Thanksgiving food items, including a large turkey and all the trimmings. Special baskets were created for those with larger families. The baskets were actually laundry baskets, making it easy to transport the food and provided the recipients with a useful household item.
The Thanksgiving Food Basket program has been in existence for many years and is one of the important ways SBCO helps to combat hunger among residents of nearby communities. Many residents in these communities rely on the Tri-Community Food Bank, government food programs, and the generosity of SaddleBrooke residents to feed their families. They are especially grateful for holiday meals they can share with their loved ones.
SBCO Events in 2023
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) has a busy schedule planned for the new year. We invite you to help us provide local children with the food, clothing, enrichment activities, and college scholarships they need to succeed. Together we can make a big difference in the lives of many young people.
Jan. 20, Kids’ Closet spring session opens
Jan. 23-28, Teen Closet spring shopping days*
Feb. 4, Activities Fair
March 1, College Scholarship Applications due
March 2, Ranch Club Expo
March 18, Food Drive (food and monetary donations)
April 1, Remodeled Home Tour (seven houses filled with great design ideas)
April 10, Annual Meeting and election of officers
April 11, Kids’ Closet spring session ends
April 22, Recycling Event
July 24-29, Teen Closet fall shopping days*
Sept. 11, Kids’ Closet fall session opens*
Oct. 15, Make a Difference Campaign Kickoff
Oct. 16, Fall Meeting/Golden Goose Fashion Show
Oct. 21, Walk for Kids
Nov. TBD, Recycling Event
Nov. 1-17, Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-a-Child donations
Nov. 20-21, Thanksgiving Baskets delivered
Dec. 7, Kids’ Closet fall session ends*
Save the Date: Annual Food Drive
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
On Saturday, March 18, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) will gather donations to support the Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB) based in Mammoth. TCFB serves families in need living in Mammoth, San Manuel, Oracle, and the Dudleyville/Aravaipa area. Our community’s donations help to provide bi-monthly emergency food boxes to an unduplicated count of 530 households (1,565 people) for the past calendar year. The TCFB served 477 different children and 340 different seniors this year. The food bank serves about 400 households with 1,190 individuals on a monthly basis. The rising cost of gasoline, food, and utilities have resulted in even more burden for local families.
All monetary contributions go directly to grocery purchases and related expenses. SBCO and TCFB are all-volunteer organizations and are IRS 501(c)(3) and Arizona nonprofit charitable organizations, so donations made to these organizations are tax deductible.
TCFB meets a real need in the Tri-Community area, where 20% of households live below the poverty level and 10% are below 50% of the poverty level. It’s hard to provide food for your family, keep a roof over your head, and buy gas to drive to your job if you don’t earn enough to cover these daily living expenses.
This year the food drive committee plans to accept food donations along with monetary donations made online or with checks. We hope to be able to experience the friendship and community spirit associated with the pick-up, sorting, and delivery of food donations.
If you live in SaddleBrooke and would like to volunteer for the food drive, please contact Andrea Stephens at [email protected]. SaddleBrooke Ranch residents should contact Betty Ryan at [email protected].