What a great group and a great trip! I can not say that enough! We finished up the last breakfast with Corned Beef hash and scrambled eggs, fresh fruit and oatmeal, then sent the tribe up the road to Benson to wait for the shuttle back to Tucson. Everyone was in great spirits! A few tribe members opted for additional miles to kill some time this morning!
We packed them a hearty lunch that included turkey bacon & swiss sandwiches, egg salad wraps, and hummus wraps. Yumm. I am looking forward to the Texas tour next month: there is still room if anyone wants to join in! I am playing with the menu and will have some new, really yummy, surprises!
After getting the tribe on the road, Jack and I cleaned up and headed to the food bank. I wrote that I would say more about this...and here goes! I was blown away, to the point of tears: which is not unusual for me: at the reception we received from the staff at the food bank. There is a huge need here in the Southern Arizona area for the services the food bank provides. (There is everywhere, actually!) We saw the lines yesterday. The director informed us that they rarely get any fresh produce at this sight, and once the word gets out in the community about what we left, it would be gone in a short matter of time. What we take for granted daily; fresh fruit and veggies; is a luxury for these people. We donated 138 pounds of fruits and veggies and 15 pounds of bread. She also told us about some of the people in the area that they are just starting to reach. They call them the "Hill People". These are people that can not afford housing and live in the foothills outside of Tombstone. They dig holes in the side of the foothills and cover the openings with what ever they can find to keep out the wind and cold. This is where they live. We see the run down housing and the poverty in all areas of the Western US as we travel. It is heart wrenching when you see it close up and talk to the people that try to service them. And, it seems that the areas that are the most in need are the areas that there are the least resources available! I have worked with our local food bank and have never seen the shelves as bare as I did in this one.
Now that we are home, after 4 days travel through wind storms, rain storms, and snow storms; I am working with US Food Services in Tucson to deliver fresh fruit once a month to this food bank. I am going to dedicate the tips that I make on these trips to support this. I urge all of you to take a look at the food banks in your areas and see what you can do to help, or if you are inclined make a donation to the Tucson area food banks to help support the Tombstone location. They can be found online at www.communityfoodbank.org
Home for two weeks, then on the road again! This season is going to fly by! We hope to see you on the road!
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