Giving Thanks-Giving Back
A total of 887 cans of food, $195 cash, and 90 turkeys: those were the food donations given by state employees by the time the Arizona Department of Agriculture wrapped up its two-hour food drive at its offices located at 17th Avenue and Adams Tuesday.
The Ag Department challenged all state agencies to contribute and kept a tally of agency contributions. Agriculture topped the givers when it came to canned goods, but the Department of Housing donated the most turkeys (39) and the most cash ($167). DES came in third with donations of canned items and turkeys. The food, which was picked up by St. Vincent de Paul, will be distributed to needy families.
The DES Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) conducted its own drive benefitting St. Vincent de Paul. They received donations from the Division's own colleagues, and those in the Division of Technology Services, the Office of LEAN Transformation and the Division for Child and Family Engagement. A total of $560 was collected, which was enough to buy 37 turkeys on "Turkey Tuesday" at a Basha's grocery store in Phoenix.
Turkey Tuesday, the nation's biggest one-day turkey drive, inspires Arizona residents to support their neighbors in need by donating hundreds of turkeys to Bashas' and Food City locations throughout the city. Every hour, a St. Vincent de Paul truck picks up the latest haul of donations.
St. Vincent de Paul volunteers hugged in celebration when the donation from DES was delivered to them in the Bashas' parking lot.
"DES has always been such a supporter of us," said one volunteer.
DES colleagues in the Office of Inspector General (OIG) had been collecting food for St. Mary's Food Bank at their nine offices in Arizona. Ten boxes were filled with about 1800 pounds of food. This is the first time OIG has conducted a food drive, and organizers were pleased with the response.
By Connie Weber