Couple sets up donation boxes for Valley View food bank

A Sun City couple has taken it upon themselves to help their neighbors who are less fortunate.

On the Monday following Thanksgiving, Jerry and Pat Kavanagh set up two food bins at the Lakeview and Bell Lanes to collect non-perishable food for the Valley View Community Food Bank, 11115 W. Nevada Ave. in Youngtown.

The couple decided to do the food drive on their own, which required Recreation Centers of Sun City approval, after dropping off turkeys for Thanksgiving.

“We’re trying to help the people of Sun City because it’s hard for many of them to get to the St. Mary’s (Food Bank Alliance) in Surprise,” Jerry, 68, said. “Why not make it easier for Sun Citians to donate? Instead of having to get (to the food bank) in Youngtown, they can just go to the recreation centers, and we’ll take it down for them.”

And residents have responded.

“On Wednesday we had 150 pounds, and the week before we had 100, and the first couple of days we had 50 pounds,” Jerry said. “I’ve got a van -- I hope I can load it up.”

The couple will empty the bins and deliver the donations to the food bank each week, unless they fill up more quickly.

Though they are not regular volunteers with the food bank, giving back seems to come naturally for the couple: They both volunteer at the Sun City Visitor’s Center, and Pat volunteers at the Banner Boswell Medical Center thrift store, while Jerry also volunteers with the Sun City PRIDES and SCHOA.

Jesse Ramirez, Valley View Community Food Bank director, said food drives and donations have been “awesome.”

“The community has really stepped up with helping our food bank, it’s unbelievable,” Ramirez said. “This is Christmas.”

Food requests, though, are still coming in strong, he said.

“We’re getting a lot of elderly people from Sun City and Sun City West, more requests than usual,” Ramirez said. “And we’re getting a lot of families without permanent addresses, who are going from place to place.”

Ramirez said he hopes the food bank’s mascot, Tilly the Toucan, who is depicted carrying two cans of food, will help residents remember the needy when they shop.

“Think about Tilly the Toucan, your local food bank, and buy two cans at the store,” Ramirez said.

Lakeview Lanes is at 10502 W. Thunderbird Blvd. in Sun City. Bell Lanes is at 16810 N. 99th Avenue in Sun City.

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514, or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.