A look back: Salvation Army Aids Maricopa Residents in Need

In this season of giving, the Maricopa branch of the Salvation Army is reaching out to those in need. It's a team effort and the leader of the team is longtime resident Amy Cole.

"My family's been involved in the Salvation Army locally since 1948," said Ms. Cole. "I can remember my mother (Naoma Cole) and Opal Ralston roasting turkeys, wrapping them in foil and putting them in cardboard boxes. When they delivered those warm boxes, I sat on top." Today, Amy and fellow longtime resident Barbara Pietrzak accept donations of used clothing and household goods all year long, sort them and then distribute them to the needy residents in the area.

"During the Christmas season, there just isn't time to deal with the used clothing items," explained Ms. Cole. "We already have families signed up for holiday food boxes and toys for children age 11 and under." Signing up the families involves getting proof of their income, residency and number of children. They must have true need, live in the area and provide birth certificates to verify the number of children in the family. This year there are 77 families signed up who, collectively, have 200 children.

"My own special angels are the people at the Fiesta Grande RV Park in Casa Grande," explained Ms. Cole. "Each year they adopt five families and 70 children. They make quilts and Christmas stockings for the families and each child gets a toy plus a sweatsuit and a 'good' outfit. They have been answering every need we've had for 10 years." Fiesta Grande also funds sending a needy, but achieving, Maricopa student to the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino also adopt "angels" each year and purchase toys for these children.

In addition to the Rotary Club, members of the Fire Department and the Optimist Club will be on hand Saturday, December 11th, to ring bells at Bashas'. Still more volunteer bell ringers are needed through Christmas on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday mornings and afternoons. If you can help with this worthwhile cause, contact Amy Cole after 6 p.m. at 568-3650.

Ms. Cole and the Salvation Army are also in need of a truck or van to bring toys from Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino to Maricopa High School at noon on Thursday, December 16th. The toys will be sorted for individual children later that day. On Friday, December 17th, the families pick up their food boxes and their toys. Staple goods for the boxes come from the Phoenix Salvation Army location and are supplemented by local food drives. Sponsors for this year's food drives are Bashas', Maricopa Family Dentistry and a class at the high school.

Please help the Maricopa branch of the Salvation Army help Maricopa residents in need.