October 2023

Dear Friends,

October was quite busy for our volunteers at the ESCCC Food Bank.

At our October 14th Food Bag distribution, our volunteers saw some new faces and delivered 95 Food Bags to our clients including tortillas, eggs and hot dogs.  Our supply of eggs was restored and we have a strategy going forward to ensure we have a consistent supply.

Our volunteers went to work and created 100 food bags for distribution on November 11th including special items to complement the turkey distribution.

Speaking of turkeys, we will be distributing 175 frozen holiday turkeys to our clients and their families on Friday November 17 starting at 9:00am.  As usual these will be distributed one to a family and while they last.  In prior years the entire supply was distributed in about an hour.

Our community partners will receive their frozen turkeys for distribution the same morning.

Fund Raising:

“There Will Be Dust”

On November 18th, the Trail Riders of Southern Arizona will host the 11th Annual “There Will Be Dust” single-day dual sport motorcycle ride event in Patagonia. TRS will be raising funds to support the ESCCC Food Bank in Patagonia. Their support over the years has been essential in helping us provide food for holiday meals.

“If Music Be the Food of Love”

The Santa Cruz County Foundation for the Performing Arts is presenting a benefit concert for the Food Bank on Sunday, November 26th at 3:00 PM at the Benderly-Kendall Concert Hall, Patagonia, featuring Candy Amato, assistant principal violist for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and colleagues from the University of Arizona and the TSO. Please join us for this wonderful musical event.

Our new website came online a few weeks ago:  www.escccfoodbank.org and the response has been very good.  The website features new ways to donate as well as answers to frequently asked questions about the food bank and a section outlining our services and future events.

We will begin our every Monday Vegetable Distribution for the season on November 6.  As you know, we distribute rescued produce every Monday morning from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in front of the Senior Citizen’s Center in Patagonia.

Our new facility has proven to be just what we need to serve our clients and fulfill our dream of no one going hungry in east Santa Cruz County.

Thank you for your hard work and support during this busy holiday season.  The smiles on the faces of our clients make it all worthwhile.

Jim