Thanks from Maricopa Salvation Army for a special holiday season

As I start my 21st year as a volunteer for the Maricopa Salvation Army, I want to thank the community for helping make the 2009 holiday season so special. 

During the year, the Salvation Army helps people in need with doctor bills, medication, utility bills, clothes, gas and unforeseen emergencies that may arise.  People needing assistance must prove hardship.  With the economy as it is and the growth in Maricopa, we have doubled if not tripled the number of families we have helped. Last fall, we ran out of money and had to turn people away.  That is so hard when you have families call and someone has been laid off from work and their utilities are going to be shut off.  We can only say we are sorry, but we have no money to help.  Hopefully, we won’t have to do that in 2010. Monetary donations are always welcome and needed.

As we made preparations for Christmas, we became nervous. We have never had more than 75 families sign up for our Angel program. We did our intakes during October and had between 150 and 200 families qualify under federal poverty guidelines. That number of families gave us between 550 to 600 children to get toys for. The Phoenix Salvation Army office sent 200 food boxes and 100 turkeys, but we were responsible for getting the toys. Last year I started a hygiene drive.

On December 14th I became ill, and I worried about getting the kettles delivered to the bell ringers.  I want to give special thanks for the Maricopa Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, David and Lisa Chavez, and Amy Powell for making a big difference. I called everyone, they picked up and brought back the kettle to me, and, with their dedication, we raised $2,644. I can’t thank them enough; they will never know how grateful I am.

Now, I only had to worry about getting the toys, and that all fell in place. I have so many people to thank. First, I want to thank Fiesta Grande RV Park in Casa Grande. They have been working with me for the past 15 years. They adopt angels and my five neediest families. Harrah’s employees adopt about 150 angels. I have been working with them for about nine years. Sergeant Stormee Wallace at the Pinal County Sheriff Department adopts all of our angels 13 and older, and, believe me, that’s a lot of kids. Our angel program is from birth to age 12. Sergeant Wallace has helped me out for the last five years. The Maricopa Rotary Club adopts angels; they have helped the past five years.

Thanks to Monica Rubio from Maricopa Parks and Recreation who held a softball tournament. Each player had to bring a toy as his or her entry fee. The Maricopa Fire Department brought toys and helped hand out toys. I want to give many thanks to the Maricopa High School Skills USA sponsor, Rex Sherry, and the Key Club sponsor, Krista Barrett.  We had about 30 of the greatest kids from Maricopa High School. These young adults work so hard sorting, organizing and carrying out the toys and food boxes. They treated everyone with a smile and respect. I was very proud to work with such outstanding students. We could never have pulled this off without them. We ran 150 to 200 families through in about one and a half hours.

I want to thank the Maricopa Library, the Card Corner Gift Shop and ED3 for allowing us to use them as toy and hygiene drop-off locations. Thank you to Wal Mart, Fry’s and Bashas’ for allowing us to ring the bells at your stores. Thank you to the Pima Butte kindergarten classes for your donations.

I want to thank Barbara Pietrzak.  She has worked with me for the past 20 years.  I couldn’t do it without her. Barb keeps me grounded and reminds me to take a deep breath and everything will work out, and she is always right.  A big thanks goes to Mary Lou Smith and Barbara Olsen, who work all year long helping people with utilities. Without these three wonderful ladies and friends, I wouldn’t be able to do so much. A special thank you to Mrs. Steve Durkee who took her college graduation money and bought hygiene products so that we have a supply to give out during the year should emergencies arise.

And lastly, thank you to the community of Maricopa for all of your donations.  I have lived in Maricopa all of my life and wouldn’t want to live any other place. If I have missed anyone, I sincerely apologize.

If you should care to make a monetary donation, you may mail it to: The Maricopa Salvation Army, c/o Amy Cole, 45002 W Fred Cole Lane, Maricopa AZ 85139.

Amy Cole

Photo by Michael K. Rich