CNRP "Adopts" Community Members, Donates Food for the Holidays

Community Noise Reduction Program staff are passionate about volunteering personal time and resources to the neighborhoods they serve through Sky Harbor's Voluntary Acquisition and Relocation (VARS) and Sound Insulation Mitigation Services (SIMS) programs. Community outreach takes place year-round, but CNRP staff doubled their efforts during the 2012 holiday season.

In November, CNRP staff asked Wesley Community Center (WCC) if there was a family in need that CNRP could assist through WCC's annual holiday Adopt-a-Family program. WCC staff provided a list of five women who take part in the center's sewing class.

CEO Betty Mathis explained that when she joined WCC in 1994, she met with families to ask if there was a program WCC did not have that would benefit them. The unanimous reply from the mothers was "A sewing class, to learn how to use sewing machines and make clothing." The women use sewing machines donated by a local church to make clothing, blankets and other essentials for themselves and their families. In addition, they make diaper bags and baby quilts for pre-natal classes at the Wesley Health Clinic. Everything they need is donated: material, thread, sewing machine needles and more.

The common "thread" among the sewing class is that the women are from Nuestro Barrio, the area around WCC at 10th Street and Buckeye Road, low-income people in need who are learning to sew in order to clothe their own families. Notably, they also use their new skills and donated materials to sew items for others in their community who are served by WCC.

The women requested basic clothing and household items as well as some sewing supplies. CNRP staff members enthusiastically "adopted" the women, went shopping and brought in wrapped gifts.

Just after Thanksgiving, CNRP received an email notice from Becky Kerr, WCC's Director of Family and Youth Services, stating "We nearly depleted our Food Pantry during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Requests for food from our pantry are always ongoing; however with Christmas upon us there is going to be another increased request for food. Any and all help you can give to help restock the shelves is greatly appreciated."

CNRP staff immediately began bringing in basic food staples requested -- rice, beans, cereal, tuna, pasta and peanut butter.

On December 17, CNRP staff loaded the gifts for the sewing class women and the food pantry donations, and delivered it all to WCC. Becky Kerr gave grateful hugs and offered a tour of the food pantry, which featured some empty shelves that now could be filled. Betty Mathis also greeted staff as they carted in their donations, saying "What you have done will help our community a great deal."

Published: December 20, 2012