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Food Bank is recipient of salvage produce after rollover
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| Food Bank clients come away with grocery carts full of produce after a semi rollover left 40,000 pounds of produce to be divvied out. (Ainslee S. Wittig/ARN) |
Christmas dinner, Santa visit planned for Dec. 23
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
Unlucky for one, but a blessing for many.
A semi truck overturned near San Simon Tuesday morning, leaving its contents of produce unable to be sold.
AV Reid, of Willcox Rural Fire, said they were called at about 7:20 a.m. for an overturned semi on Interstate 10, milepost 377.5. Willcox Rural righted the truck and trailer, which was down the embankment off the shoulder at a 45-degree angle.
The 2002 Peterbuilt truck was driven by John Messick, 40, of Gardner, Kan., said Officer Joy Craig, public information of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
"The driver had lost control and overcorrected as he was leaving the roadway, causing the truck to roll a quarter turn onto its right side. Messick was admitted to UMC in Tucson for his injuries," she said. The driver had picked up a load of produce in Nogales that morning.
With nearly 40,000 pounds of cantaloupes, cucumbers, squash, honeydew melons and more to be given away, the Southeast Arizona Food Bank in Willcox was the recipient.
Reid said Willcox Rural loaded the food that was not crushed and brought it to the Food Bank.
The Food Bank was equipped to handle the large amount of produce and has a large clientele, which came out in droves as the word quickly spread.
"Nearly 500 people benefited" from one mishap, said Food Bank executive director Rey Martinez Sr. "We were blessed. There are a lot of people in need here."
The stream of people to and from the Food Bank Thursday left Martinez directing traffic in the front of the warehouse on Maley Street.
The Southeast Arizona Food Bank had cut hours and employees in 2007 because it failed to win a bid for a contract from the Arizona Department of Economic Security to feed the area's needy.
Prior to that, the food bank had served Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties since 1987. Prior to 2004, it also served Santa Cruz County.
Now, Martinez said, they try to give out some food daily and keep their store open to raise money; however, a load of salvage for the store costs $18,000 now, instead of $10,000 as it used to.
Due to the cost of the driver (about $100 a day) and fuel, the Food Bank cannot afford to pick up produce available in Nogales, Martinez said.
The Food Bank will be able to hold its annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 23, as well as have Santa Claus visit the area's children, thanks to donations from various generous donors, Martinez said.
Donors are: Eurofresh Farms ($250) and Kees Rodenberg ($150), Dickie and Charlotte Ellis of Dick's Texaco ($100), Food City ($100), and Safeway ($25).
Also donating are Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative for stuffing their bills with donation envelopes, Dollar General and Alco for candy canes, Clothesline Laundromat for washing and mending toys, the City of Willcox for shopping carts, and Ace Hardware for cups and plates, Martinez said.
"I hope we did not forget anyone, we appreciate all that have helped us give the annual dinner. We were not going to be able to do it this year until I spoke with Eurofresh and Kees," he said.
Santa Claus will visit the Food Bank from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, and that will be followed by the dinner from about 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"We are still looking for volunteers to help serve dinner," Martinez added.
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
Unlucky for one, but a blessing for many.
A semi truck overturned near San Simon Tuesday morning, leaving its contents of produce unable to be sold.
AV Reid, of Willcox Rural Fire, said they were called at about 7:20 a.m. for an overturned semi on Interstate 10, milepost 377.5. Willcox Rural righted the truck and trailer, which was down the embankment off the shoulder at a 45-degree angle.
The 2002 Peterbuilt truck was driven by John Messick, 40, of Gardner, Kan., said Officer Joy Craig, public information of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
"The driver had lost control and overcorrected as he was leaving the roadway, causing the truck to roll a quarter turn onto its right side. Messick was admitted to UMC in Tucson for his injuries," she said. The driver had picked up a load of produce in Nogales that morning.
With nearly 40,000 pounds of cantaloupes, cucumbers, squash, honeydew melons and more to be given away, the Southeast Arizona Food Bank in Willcox was the recipient.
Reid said Willcox Rural loaded the food that was not crushed and brought it to the Food Bank.
The Food Bank was equipped to handle the large amount of produce and has a large clientele, which came out in droves as the word quickly spread.
"Nearly 500 people benefited" from one mishap, said Food Bank executive director Rey Martinez Sr. "We were blessed. There are a lot of people in need here."
The stream of people to and from the Food Bank Thursday left Martinez directing traffic in the front of the warehouse on Maley Street.
The Southeast Arizona Food Bank had cut hours and employees in 2007 because it failed to win a bid for a contract from the Arizona Department of Economic Security to feed the area's needy.
Prior to that, the food bank had served Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties since 1987. Prior to 2004, it also served Santa Cruz County.
Now, Martinez said, they try to give out some food daily and keep their store open to raise money; however, a load of salvage for the store costs $18,000 now, instead of $10,000 as it used to.
Due to the cost of the driver (about $100 a day) and fuel, the Food Bank cannot afford to pick up produce available in Nogales, Martinez said.
The Food Bank will be able to hold its annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 23, as well as have Santa Claus visit the area's children, thanks to donations from various generous donors, Martinez said.
Donors are: Eurofresh Farms ($250) and Kees Rodenberg ($150), Dickie and Charlotte Ellis of Dick's Texaco ($100), Food City ($100), and Safeway ($25).
Also donating are Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative for stuffing their bills with donation envelopes, Dollar General and Alco for candy canes, Clothesline Laundromat for washing and mending toys, the City of Willcox for shopping carts, and Ace Hardware for cups and plates, Martinez said.
"I hope we did not forget anyone, we appreciate all that have helped us give the annual dinner. We were not going to be able to do it this year until I spoke with Eurofresh and Kees," he said.
Santa Claus will visit the Food Bank from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, and that will be followed by the dinner from about 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"We are still looking for volunteers to help serve dinner," Martinez added.
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