SADD students provide 66 complete Thanksgiving meals

They did it! The Maricopa Wells Middle School SADD students and their adviser, Priscilla Behnke, raised enough funds for 66 complete turkey meals and delivered them to 65 families (one family had enough members to need two meals) for Thanksgiving.

According to Behnke, if all of the pledges come in, the group will have raised a total of $2,980.27. They also received seven frozen turkeys, which were given to additional families.

MWMS’s SADD students worked hard for the past eight weeks to raise the funds to pay for these meals (see related story). Students asked for help from local businesses, neighbors, friends, families and teachers.

“However, SADD could not have done this alone,” said Behnke. “It truly was a community effort. We had several community volunteers with donations, turkey deliveries and help with connecting us with families who were in need. This year I am thrilled to say that we had more parent volunteers delivering meals with their children then ever before. The support from community volunteers to help deliver the dinners was overwhelming.”

Only one van was available to deliver meals, so the 21 students who showed up to help took turns delivering to the families.

This year’s goal was the highest the students have set for themselves in the past five years since Behnke began facilitating the project. “With this economic climate I believe this is a great achievement. If all pledges come through, we will have extra money to go towards helping kids in our community have a nice Christmas,” Behnke said.

The SADD students wish to thank the following volunteers for their help:

Drivers:
Cynthia Aburto and family
Patricia Yates
Mary Goldner and Church
Heidi Bruder (EMPACT)
Josh Fostes (Education Outside of the Box)
Justin Klatt (Desert Springs Church)
Lorena Vleasquez
PatriciaWilson
Ryan Desrochers

Donors:
Clubs:
FFA
Maricopa Wells SADD CLUB
Maricopa Wells G-Club
Maricopa Wells Cheers
Maricopa High School Cheers
Mrs. McMullen’s 5th grade class at Butterfield

Schools and departments:
Maricopa Wells Middle School staff
Butterfield staff
Desert Wind Middle School
Maricopa Elementary School staff
Speech/Language Department
Cafeteria Staff (District Wide)
Maricopa Wells Custodial Staff
HR Department and Suzette Moe
Maricopa Wells students

Businesses:
Hair Focus
Headquarters Restaurant
Chitwood Feed
State Farm agent Courtney Tyler
CNC Barber Shop and Spa.
Mel’s Auto

Individuals:
Deseriee Hausler-Guarino
Enos Jordan
Kevin Behnke
Bob and Sandra Thomas
Dianne and Robert Dries
Christine and Paul Friedman
Margaret Bryant
Christina Terry
Tara Roy
David and Mary Mercer
Christina and Albert Terry
Donna Whittwer
Joel Bernales
Greta Cofield
Aron Rausch
Ann and Anthony Perez
Gilbert Soto
Jinx and Vincent Smith
Steven and Debra Bodinett
Richard Hubbard
Eric and Danielle Carter
Shane and Jennifer Parker
Harry and Eleanor Jones
Missy Beville
Julie Jimenez
Marami Abbadessa
Ann Rosati
Patricia Wilson

Additional Support:
Carmen Lizarraga (announcements, directions, translation services, messages…)
Sabrina Blanton (directions and transportation support)
Nevar Mitchel (Help with ips on prices for turkeys)
Jasmeet Verma (fundraising at the high school with the cheers)
Isac Perez (support for SADD students to complete this project).

“It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of individuals. I think sometimes kids get a bad rap for being selfish and entitled,” Behnke explained. “I just watched 20 plus kids give up their lunch time to raise funds by sitting at a booth at lunch with a donation box, calling businesses and making flyers. These same students used their free time after school and weekends to walk around neighborhoods to collect funds. Never once did they think about themselves, but what they could do for others. When given the opportunity, youth step up and do what they can for others and help their community.”

Submitted photos

Photo: (left to right) Justin Clatt from The Springs Church, two Bashas employees, Ericka Barba,Tiffany Patterson (with bag), Beydy Picasso (with turkey), Elizabeth Carpenter, Priscilla Behnke, SADD Facilitator. Top Row: Lacey Fitzpatrick (left) Madeline Velasco.