• Bob Benjamin requested early morning volunteers for the Lost Dutchman Marathon to put signs out directing runners to the marathon site. Three Rotarians immediately volunteered for the job.
• Mike Cowan passed around flyers about the Ranch Rodeo. All proceeds from the rodeo will benefit the children’s oncology unit at Banner Hospital. Our club will have the beer vendor booth. Members can also support the effort by purchasing sponsor banners ($25) and by simply attending the event ($10). The deadline for sponsorships is October 1.
• Aaron McDermid passed around the Dictionary signup sheet. Every year, the Superstition Mountain Rotary distributes dictionaries to all third grade students in the Apache Junction, Gold Canyon schools.
• President Matt Rupert reminded us about the seminar coming up Saturday, October 10, from 8:30 to noon, about growing the club. Cost is $10 per person, and will be held at the Four Points Sheraton at I-10 and Elliot. Members need to register on the district website, but will pay at the door.
• Tim Sicocan is looking for teams to play at the Boys & Girls Club Bowl-a-thon. Players will be able to bowl with some of the families who are helped by the club. Sponsorships are also still available.
• Bill Burrows shared “most of the news that’s fit to read,” including an accounting error that is paying off for marijuana consumers in Colorado. A quirk in a state tax law has caused the state to suspend most taxes on recreational pot. Reno’s version of the freeway shooter has vandals lobbing watermelons at cars. And police at Florida International University arrested a man for crawling under a library table and smelling a woman’s feet.
• Matt shared that Frank Mwinyelle, our speaker from last week, has submitted his application for membership.
• Jay Jones shared that he joined Rotary 20 years ago.
• The drawing was worth $174 today.  Heather Itz won the drawing but drew the 6 of clubs. 

President Matt Rupert welcomed our speaker, Jeff Downing, director of the Gold Canyon United Methodist Food Bank.

The Gold Canyon United Methodist Church has had a small food bank for 22 years, providing emergency food supplies for individuals and families in need. They work out of a 15’ x 35’ room, which can be a challenge, as the food bank served 7,044 bags of food in 2014, feeding 10,173 people – as compared to 1,370 bags of food in 2009. Their efforts also help support another heavily homeless Methodist Food Bank in Phoenix. The Gold Canyon Food Bank is open year round, Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to noon, and 4:30pm to 8pm on Wednesdays.

The food bank is fortunate to have experienced examples of divine intervention in their ministry. In August of 2011, a homeless man who was walking from Phoenix to Globe, came in, hoping for a better pair of shoes. His own shoes were worn out sneakers with the heels cut off so they would fit. “We are a food bank,” Jeff told him. “We don’t normally have clothing or shoes, but I will check for you.” Jeff checked the miscellaneous shelf, and there was one pair of shoes; a new pair of Adidas sneakers, size 12D. As it turned out, the man’s shoe size was 12D. Smiling, the man told Jeff, “I haven’t had a new pair of shoes in over 11 years.” Jeff told him, “They were here for you.”

Jeff shared that it is commonplace to receive donations of needed food and toiletry items within five minutes of running out. “It happens all the time. These occurrences magnify the pleasure of serving the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church’s Food Bank mission and our local community.”

The food bank does not require extensive paperwork from those who are asking for help. “If you come in and say you need help, we will help.”

“We have three communities of homeless individuals who live about a mile or so out, in the desert, south of highway 60. And we assist several families with up to 16 members. Nowadays, though, ‘family’ doesn’t necessarily mean mother, father, and 14 kids. There’s a lot of what we refer to as ‘blended families’ out there; there may be 7 adults, 3 kids, and 2 grandchildren – just people getting together because they can’t afford to live independently.”

“You never know where these folks are going to come from, but you can pretty much tell they have a need when they walk in the door.”

Everyone who works at the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church Food Bank is a volunteer. They currently have about 50 volunteers. The food bank is located behind the business office at the church. Recipients are allowed to take food bags twice monthly.

Jeff asks that when you shop, please pick up a couple of items to donate. “We thank you for your support; you just may be part of God’s next miracle.”