We Care
newsletter FALL | 2021 VOLUME 36 , NO. 4
MATURING OF AN ORGANIZATION P5
CAPILLA DEL SOL P11
Interfaith Community Services Food Banks Going Mobile On a daily basis, visitors to the Interfaith Community Services (ICS) food banks wait patiently in their cars, masks on, for their turn to exchange a few kind and grateful words with volunteers, receive their food and be on their way. But some do not come in cars. A few guests come with rolling luggage carts, traveling across town on public 2820 W. Ina Rd. Tucson, AZ 85741
IN T HI S I S S U E:
transportation. Some guests even come on their bicycles. It is an all-day endeavor. For many who receive our services, access to services is a barrier to getting the help they need. Reliance on public transportation often means that people have to set aside a day to visit our food banks, traveling long distances to get the food that helps them get through the month. During the last 18 months, in response to social distance
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID TUCSON, AZ PERMIT #2874
“Helping people in need achieve stable, healthy and independent lives.”
Awarded four stars eleven years in a row!
A Word from Tom Dear Friends of ICS! The word “astounding” best reflects how I feel about the work we do at ICS. No matter what has happened or is happening, our volunteers, donors, faith communities and staff continue to give everything they have to those in need. Your gifts of time, support, and encouragement lift up our entire community. As a maturing organization, we are moving forward by knocking down barriers and bringing hope to those who need support. Access to our services is essential. We are opening our new Central Office location and launching our Mobile Food Bank in the fall. Both of these endeavors will make it easier for people to access services and be connected with a caring community. We are only able to do this because of our volunteers and donors – because of you This past year has certainly challenged us, but we are stronger for it and it has prepared us for whatever comes next. You are amazing, you gave, gave and gave some more. And you continue to give which is inspiring. Thank you all for making ICS astounding every day and to everyone we serve.
Tom McKinney Chief Executive Officer
Email: info@icstucson.org Website: www.icstucson.org Northwest Office:
2820 W. Ina Road Tucson, AZ 85741 campus of Christ the King Episcopal Ph: 520-297-6049
Eastside Office:
8701 E. Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85710 campus of New Spirit Lutheran Ph: 520-731-3076
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Central Office:
122 N. Craycroft Rd. Tucson, AZ 85711 campus of Rincon Congregational UCC Ph: 520-731-3076
Southside Office:
101 W. Irvington Rd. Building 2A Tucson, AZ 85714 El Pueblo Neighborhood Center Ph: 520-297-6049
Interfaith Community Services We Care Newsletter is published quarterly by Interfaith Community Services, 2820 W. Ina Rd., Tucson, AZ 85741. Receive this newsletter by e-mail instead by notifying us at agarn@icstucson.org.
Mobile Food Bank
continued from page 1 requirements, ICS transformed our food banks into drive through models. Faced with the increased volume of people in need, the drive through model allowed visitors to be helped quickly so that more people could be served in less time. Not only is this a more efficient mode of service delivery, but it also allows staff, volunteers, and those in need to take comfort in the safety of physical distancing. In the coming months, ICS is taking this one step further. In our efforts to remove barriers to services, we will be taking our food bank to where the need is greatest. Our food banks will be hitting the road with a new service truck, the ICS Mobile Food Bank. It will have a regular route schedule, strategically placed in neighborhoods where many of our food bank recipients live. Beginning in November, the Mobile Food Bank will be on a regular schedule, starting out at three locations each week. That schedule will expand in the coming months, with an additional location. The truck will help serve 50 to 60 families a day that otherwise may not have been able to acquire food. Built to distribute frozen meats and refrigerated items such as dairy and produce, the goal is to give clients the complete food bank experience without the hassle of all-day travel. The truck will begin each day at the Mobile Food Bank Hub located on Tucson’s eastside on the campus of New Spirit Lutheran Church before it heads out to the new distribution sites. The sites will be made up of committed ICS faith communities who will be providing volunteers for the food distribution. Date, time, and location information for the Mobile Food Bank will be regularly updated on the ICS social media pages and on our website, icstucson.org Undeniably, taking a complex operation like food distribution on the road poses a unique set of challenges. Making sure the Mobile Food Bank is stocked and ready to roll each of the four days it will be open means early mornings of prepping, packing, loading, and documenting the amount of food necessary to serve those families in need. Ensuring that we have enough volunteers to greet our guests and distribute the food at each location means a scaling up of our food bank volunteer corps. And replicating the unique, ICS hospitality of the food bank experience remains a high priority. The wait has been long. Supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have meant delays in the building of the special refrigerated truck with roll-up side doors and retractable awning. Anticipation and excitement have been building over the past several months. But the wait is nearly over. The custom-built truck is scheduled for delivery and will be staffed by an additional team member in addition to a cadre of caring volunteers.
If you are interested in joining this effort as a volunteer, please see our website for opportunities or contact Volunteer Engagement Manager, Tori Carlson at 520-526-9308 or tcarlson@icstucson.org.
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Celebrating Our Volunteer Family
Connect HELP
Support
Community
Volunteer
Venture
Expanding our services means expanded opportunities to engage! As our Eastside and Central presence grows we are able to offer more opportunities for volunteers to assist at the Eastside Food Bank Hub at New Spirit Lutheran. Volunteer opportunities are open in the mornings 5 days/week with a kickoff date of November 1st for a variety of nuts and bolts food -based operations! Registered volunteers are invited to sign up and non-registered volunteers are welcome to become registered. Please help spread the word of need for ICS Eastside volunteers at our Food Bank Hub. Tell a neighbor or your faith congregation of this expanded need. New volunteer orientations are offered twice monthly over zoom. Sign up at icstucson.org or contact Volunteer Engagement Manager, Tori Carlson for more information. tcarlson@icstucson.org 520-526-9308
Grow
Engage
Give
Learn
Service
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS ARE NOW ONLINE! Sign up on our website at icstucson.org Thursdays, 10:00 am October 21 October 28 November 4
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Maturing of an Organization Physical size, in addition to the number of clients, volunteers and donors are all part of this year’s growth at Interfaith Community Services (ICS). These are a few ways to easily measure growth, but not always the most important component. This past year has not only allowed us to be better and more confident at what we do, but also grow in scope. This is important because in a time of crisis, isolation, and fear, ICS came together and partnered with others in the community to serve so many in need. We had to think outside the box and learn how to provide our services in many different ways. Only an organization who knows who they are and is confident in their mission can accomplish this.
The most important component of growth, and yet sometimes overlooked, is the maturing and evolution of an incredible organization.
While ICS continued to provided 95% of its services during the past year, our community developed new initiatives in record time to meet changing needs. Thanks to already established systems and procedures, ICS was able to quickly adapt to a virtual model and offer many services remotely. Not only did we continue to provide mobile meals, but also expanded the service to include delivering groceries and food boxes to those who could not get out. By utilizing our partnerships with faith communities, ICS was also able to get food closer to those who could not get to us. In a matter of days, volunteers called all our senior clients and offered them help with scheduling vaccinations as well as the transportation to and from both appointments if they needed it. Transforming our Emergency Financial Assistance systems, Financial Literacy program and Mental Health First Aid programs was no easy task, but access to these areas was life-saving in many cases. All the things that have made ICS such a special place is still happening, but now many of them are offered virtually. Focusing on the greater good is very much an ICS attribute, and that attribute is reinforced by our volunteers and faith communities throughout Pima County. As ICS moves forward into the unknown it will continue to be pushed to grow and mature. To those we serve, our organizational maturity is essential. The services provided will keep someone in their home, prepare someone for a job, help a single-mom graduate from college and provide food to a family when they have nowhere else to turn. This past year 52,000 people turned to ICS for support. ICS should be, and is, proud of the maturity and growth that has been developed upon the foundations built by those who created the organization. ICS will continue to be proactive as well as responsive to our ever-changing environment. To successfully navigate this changing world, the ICS community will need to retain the best of what as defined and sustained the organization throughout its history.
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Faith Community Engagement News This past July, ICS was looking to spread the love and set a goal to collect 10,000 jars of peanut butter for the annual ICS Peanut Butter Party. When the challenge went out to our 120 faith community partners, they responded with excitement and came through! At the end of July, ICS collected 11,402 jars of peanut butter! Thank you to all who participated! But we want to lift up two congregations for their extraordinary efforts! St. Mark’s United Methodist Church collected the most jars of peanut butter, bringing in 1851 jars! Congregation M’kor Hayim (pictured above) collected the most jars per capita, bringing in 7.5 jars of peanut butter per member of their congregation! Thank you to all of the congregations, individuals, community groups, and everyone who helped make this Peanut Butter Party a great success! We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of our Faith Community Partners, many went above and beyond in the past few months! Here are a few highlights from our Faith Communities: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church organized a hygiene kit collection and gave them to clients at the Food Bank who requested
This Holiday Season can be a time of increased need for many. Will you join us in making a difference this Holiday Season?
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them! Items included: shampoo, soap, combs/ brushes, toothpaste and brushes, hand sanitizer, and deodorant. Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene collected canned foods for their student and family event “Splash Bash!” OVCN encouraged families to bring canned foods to the event, and they brought in over 900 lbs of food! Desert Valley Adventist Church hosted our Single Mom Scholars Saturday meetings for several months. The space allowed for the mothers and children to learn, play, and be with each other. Creating a community is an important part of the Single Mom Scholars program, and having a great space is important to building that up. ICS is grateful for the contributions of our 120 partner faith communities! Together we’re impacting many lives for the better. To schedule a visit at one of our offices, or to have an ICS staff member or board member visit your congregation, or to explore your congregation joining us in the good work described in this newsletter, call our Faith and Community Outreach Coordinator, Jay Deskins at 520-314-3271 or email jdeskins@icstucson.org. Interfaith Community Service's Gifts of Love program helps families in need during the holiday season. The Gifts of Love program matches these families with generous individuals and interfaith organizations/partners to provide forms of tangible hope and joy. Will you join us in making a difference this holiday season? Online adoption profiles for children, teens, and senior citizens will be available from November 1st through December 10th. Please ensure to drop off all items on the adoption wish-list for your selected families/individuals to the Northwest office during the week of December 13th-17th. for more information call (520)477-0275 or visit our website www.icstucson.org.
Interfaith Community Services was founded in 1985 by six faith communities and is proud to work with 120 partnering faith communities today. Abiding in Christ Fellowship Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Agape Christian Church International Aldea Spiritual Community Alive Church Alive in Christ Lutheran Apostolic Deliverance Ministry Arizona Yage Spiritual Assembly Ascension Lutheran Baha’i Faith - Oro Valley Beautiful Savior Lutheran Canyon del Oro Bible Church Capilla del Sol Christian Casas Adobes Congregational UCC Casas Church Catalina United Methodist Christ Church United Methodist Christ Presbyterian Christ the King Episcopal Church of the Apostles Episcopal Church of the Everlasting Gospel Church of the Painted Hills UCC Community Christian Church Marana Congregation Anshei Israel Congregation Bet Shalom Congregation Chaverim Congregation Or Chadash Congregation M’kor Hayim ConnectionPointe Church Connections Vineyard C.O.R.E. Life Ministries Cortaro Vista Community Church Desert Dove Christian Church Desert Skies United Methodist Desert Valley Adventist Church Dove of Peace Lutheran Ebenezer All Nations Seventh Day Adventist Faith Christian Fellowship of Tucson First Christian Church First United Methodist Church Fountain of Life Lutheran Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Grace Temple Missionary Baptist
Church St. Christopher Catholic Parish Grace to the Nations Church St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Greater Faith Word Church St. Francis in the Foothills United International Methodist Hope City Church St. James United Methodist Immanuel Presbyterian St John's United Methodist Islamic Center of Tucson Church Living Grace Ekklesia St. John on the Desert Lord of Grace Lutheran Presbyterian LifeBridge Church St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Lutheran Church of the Foothills St. Mark’s Presbyterian Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist St. Mark’s United Methodist Ministerios Manantial De Amor St. Matthew’s Episcopal Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist St. Michael and All Angels Church Episcopal Mountain Shadows Presbyterian St. Michael the Archangel Mountain View Baptist Ecumenical Catholic Mountain Vista U.U. Congregation St. Odilia Catholic New Hope/Nueva Esperanza St. Paul's United Methodist Church United Methodist Church St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal New Life Bible Fellowship Streams in the Desert Lutheran New Life Community Church of Summit Ridge Church the Nazarene Tanque Verde Lutheran New Spirit Lutheran Temple Emanu-El Northminster Presbyterian Templo La Uncion North Tucson Stake of The Church The Good News Community of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Church Saints The Holy Way Presbyterian Northwest Community Friends The Journey Church Church Third Church of Christ, Scientist Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene Tortolita Presbyterian Oro Valley United Church of Christ Tree of Life Church Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Trinity Presbyterian Church Church Tucson Central Church of the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Nazarenne Pantano Christian Church Tucson Church International Resurrection Lutheran Tucson Community of Christ Rincon Baptist Church Tucson Midvale Park SDA Church Rincon Congregational UCC Unity of Tucson Rising Star Baptist Church Unity Spiritual Center of Peace Saguaro Christian Church Unleashed Church Sanctuary United Methodist U.U. Church of Tucson Santa Catalina Catholic Vida Nueva/New Life Church of Shalom Mennonite God Southside Presbyterian The Village Church St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Water of Life Metropolitan St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Community Church St. Andrew’s Presbyterian
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ICS Staff Updates
Mariah Erhart, Special Projects Coordinator Mariah, originally from Montana, moved to Tucson in August 2020 to work as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. She has a background in project management, fundraising, and student services. Fun fact: Mariah has been skydiving.
Jennie Lane, Mobile Meals Assistant Jennie graduated from ASU with a bachelors in Elementary Education. After a few years of teaching, she stayed at home to raise her 4 children. She spent the last 6 years substitute teaching for Amphitheater Schools, mostly at Mesa Verde. Jennie loves to help others as evidenced by the career path she chose. She is honored for this new opportunity to help others through the ICS organization. Fun fact: Jennie loves to hike. Her favorite hikes in the past were Angel’s Landing in Zion, Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Ritas and the Grand Canyon - top to bottom and back up!
Haley Navarette, Workforce Development Coordinator Haley has been a Tucson native for many years. Haley has worked in a variety of fields from Health care, to the Justice Department and even Law Enforcement as a volunteer with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Her passion in continuing her efforts in helping those in need led her to apply to the Non-Profit Sector which then led her into ICS’s hands. In her free time, Haley enjoys wine/food tasting, hiking, and spending time in the outdoors with her family. Fun fact: Haley loves wearing and collecting Boots, she has a collection of over 12!
Kaela Nobert, Resource and Intake Specialist Prior to coming to ICS, Kaela worked various different jobs all related to customer service. Most recently with Community Partners working the front desk of their MAT clinic. She looks forward to getting to know everyone who works here and is grateful to have been given this wonderful opportunity. Fun fact: Kaela is a Disney enthusiast!
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1 in 4 children are at risk of hunger
Help us ensure Tucson families have food this holiday season
October 30, 2021
Canyon Del Oro Bible Church 9200 N Oracle Rd 9am - noon
Be a part of the biggest food drive of the year for the ICS Food Banks! Join Scouts, schools, staff and clients of Edward Jones offices and bring in your food donation. Help collect crucial supplies for our holiday food bag distribution.
ICS Winter Fest Live Music • Raffle • Sweet Treats “Seasons Greetings” from the ICS Staff!
Friday, December 3 3-4 pm drive through 4:30-6 pm walk through 2820 W. Ina Road
ICS invites you to this year’s Winter Fest. We will be gathering at the Northwest Office Parking lot for ICS Winter Fest. All of this can be done with masks, at a safe distance, either during the drive through hour or the walk through hour. We hope to see you there and spread a bit of Holiday Cheer!
Please RSVP to Celena Robles at 520-526-9304 or crobles@icstucson.org
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Memorials and Tributes: 7/1/21-9/30/21 Memorials and gifts of honor are a special way to remember friends and loved ones, as well as make a tax‑deductible donation to ICS. An acknowledgment is sent to both donor and honoree. Thank you! In Memory Of: Given By Multi Ahrens - Your memory will live on in our hearts forever, Ms. MaryAnn Ahrens Wayne and Ann Marie Barry, Mr. Fred and Ms. Sandra Eaton Pat Bishop, Ms. Suzanne M Bishop Budd Bragg, Patricia McSweeney Brittain and Gary loved ones, Ms. Ann and Mr. Robert Brittain Mel Bucholz, Michelle Davidson Brian Codd, Barbara Codd Mike Daniels, Kirstin Berson Kenneth Fehrenz, Martha and William Gordon Ruth Ganeles, Mr. Paul and Ms. Ruth Ganeles Richard Harding, Joan Regens Edmund L. Jenkins, Mr. Richard and Ms. Wardlee Meyer, Harold Schneider Charles Jonaitis, Karen Jonaitas Rosslyn M Jones, Henry E. Jones Jr. Dick Kampa, Bonnie Kampa Nadine Kaplan, Anita Kaplan John Lehmkul, Barbara K. Barr Jerry Loomis, Jim and Barbara Hansen, Craig and Jan Littlefield, Mr. David and Ms. Ellen Vellenga Bob Lyons, L. De Fusco, Jim and Barbara Hansen, Bonnie Kampa, Sandra and Will Kreamer, Craig and Jan Littlefield, Bruce and Estelle McDoniel, Dora Rouse, Mr. David and Ms. Ellen Vellenga Margie Nordbrock, Ms. Nancy and Mr. Christopher Myers Matthew Parks, Doreen Parks Ron Patton, Mr. James and Ms. Patricia Heller Michael Rowe, Mrs. Janet Rowe David and Mary Alice Rutter, Ms. Cathy Stewart My Dad, Ms. Carol Schulte Judith Thum, Gabriel Thum and Paula Randler Pastor Jim Toole, Craig and Jan Littlefield Steve Ufer, Ted and Naomi Colburn
My Pap who would give anyone the shirt off his back., Sara Wolfe Vaughan Dick Weill, Dr. Terry and Ms. Shirley Coleman, Joyce A Dixon, Jerome and Kathy Green, Jodine M Hohensee, John Kidd, Mr. Barry and Ms. Patti Robinson Bill West, Hiroko Dean In Honor Of: Given By All of the drivers at ICS, Shirley Ripsch All the new immigrants seeking opportunity, Mr. Gregory and Ms. Cathy Mannel Andrea's Birthday Fundraiser, Jennifer Pueschner Floss Bryant's 100th birthday, Sandra Marchese The Can Lady, Pamela Campbell and Jerry Rumley Ron Feller, Alan Kalmikoff and Pamela Drell Happy Birthday Liz!, Ms. MaryAnn Ahrens Happy Birthday Patty!, Ms. MaryAnn Ahrens Happy birthday Tori!, Ms. Maria and Mr. Ronald Brown Homeless Veterans outreach team, Don and Anne Stalter John and Mary Ann Lambertsen - Happy 49th Anniversary!, Ms. Linda J Lambertsen Paul McDonough, Mary Davis Pat McGovern Gorchov - Happy Birthday!, Mary Davis Tom McKinney and Dee Dee Connel, John A. Almquist Jr. and Laura T. Almquist Tom McKinney's birthday, Mr. Norman and Ms. Victoria Carlson Sandy Mitchel - Happy Birthday!, Melissa Fitzgerald Dr. Christopher Myers - Happy Birthday!, Julie Reichman Sharon Ragland, Jessie Deyoe Mollee Richey and Ann Garn, Celena Robles Celena Robles, Barry and Susan Bedrick Betsy Sandlin, Edward and Betty Aptaker The Marriage of Darlene Stevenson and Alex Kassolis, Jim and Barbara Hansen
Change a Life and Get a Tax Credit Many of you support ICS by taking the dollar-for-dollar Arizona Charitable Tax Credit when you make a donation. The law allows an individual to take a $400 tax credit and married couples to contribute up to $800 in addition to any foster care, school or Veterans’ tax credits you may be claiming. Your donation helps families who turn to the ICS Food Bank, people in crisis who need emergency help with rent or utilities, and seniors who depend on nutritious Mobile Meals delivered to their home, among many others. Deadline to claim the tax credit on your state of Arizona 2021 taxes is April 15, 2022. Learn more at icstucson.org
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Founding Faith Partner's Work Endures When six congregations first created Interfaith Community Service in 1985, and was called Northwest Interfaith Center, there was so much hope for what would come. Over the past 36 years, those six congregations have welcomed 114 more congregations to join in their dream. On September 19, 2021, one of those founding congregations held its final worship service and ended its physical presence in the community. Capilla del Sol Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been a part of ICS since the beginning. At the closing worship service, ICS CEO Tom McKinney was invited to speak. Tom asked the congregation “How many of you have volunteered your time at ICS?” Almost every hand shot into the air. Capilla del Sol has sent volunteers to both regular volunteer opportunities and to volunteer positions on the board. They have sent drivers for senior ride services, food bank volunteers, recruiters for Single Mom Scholars, and board members emeriti. According to a letter to the congregation from October 2001 from former ICS Executive director, June Head, “For such a small congregation you all work miracles. You all (go) the extra mile…The volunteers that come from your congregation are all great people and so willing to help.” Other ICS staff who have worked closely with Capilla del Sol had this to say: “Over the ensuing 36 years, Capilla del Sol has been a stalwart participant in providing services to neighbors in need throughout our community. Their participation has been grounded in sincere care for our community, and they were all-in with ICS as a way they could impact many more people than they could on their own," says Karen MacDonald, ICS Honoring Our Lives Lead Trainer and former Faith Community Outreach Manager. "They knew the value of coming together to amplify their mission. Through their co-founding of and continual participation in ICS, Capilla del Sol has put its faith into action for countless neighbors in our community. Their legacy of faith continues.” June Head was correct 20 years ago and remains correct 20 years later. Capilla del Sol may have been a small congregation, but it’s heart was exponentially bigger. Interfaith Community Services is grateful for the faithful, dedicated, never-ending work of Capilla del Sol. A piece of the spirit of Capilla del Sol will continue through the work of ICS!
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Thanks to our Corporate and Foundation Partners
David S. and Norma R. Lewis Foundation
L2 Foundation
Waters Foundation
Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation
Eliot Spalding Foundation
Elizabeth Read Taylor Foundation
Denton Family Foundation
Lyons Family Foundation
Beaty Martinez Foundation
J. William and Helen D. Stuart Foundation
Millwood Foundation
Stratton Advisors
Tucson Charity Bridge Club
Carl and Mabel Shurtz Foundation
Hellene Hendrickson Foundation
William and Ruth Pendleton Memorial Fund