Havasu Side x Side Comes Together To Help Local Seniors

By Becky Maxedon

One of Lake Havasu City’s organizations has come together to provide food bags for some community seniors.

Donna Matthews, special events coordinator for Havasu Side x Side Trail Association, said Monday the group has put together 95 food bags to be distributed this week.

“Membership has reached into its pockets and they have made 95 food bags for needful seniors,” Matthews said.

“They decided to make this the Christmas project.”

She said the club stepped up as well and donated a $500 check to the Lake Havasu Community Food Bank.

“We’re happy to say that we are basically going to help feed 95 needful seniors of our community. There’s rotisserie chickens, there’s pumpkin pie and whipped cream, there’s bread, there’s yams, there’s oatmeal, there’s canned chicken, there’s canned vegetables, there’s gravy … just a whole bunch of stuff in these bags to hopefully make them smile,” she said.

Lake Havasu Food Bank RiverScene Magazine

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Others contributed to the project to help fill the food bags. Matthews said club Vice President Georgeann Hoover purchased all the chickens. Fred Thompson donated all the bread, and the local restaurant Niko’s donated all the pies.

“Sam’s Club in Bullhead City is doing us a huge favor. Their rotisseries cook 96 chickens at a time, and they normally sell 388 chickens a day, so they agreed to get staff in early to help us,” Hoover said.

“The membership of the club has all stepped up. There were 20 to 25 who stepped up and were very hands on. Saturday morning, we all met and we basically filled all the bags,” Matthews said.

“This morning, we met and we loaded all the bags and then tomorrow we’ll all meet and hand out the bags. It’s the membership that really stepped up this time,” Matthews said.

The bags will be handed out at the Community Food Bank.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Colleen Mattinson, food bank manager, said they are excited about the contribution.

“Oh, it’s wonderful. There’s never been anything like this done for the seniors. It’s awesome. It’s a great idea. The seniors are excited about it. I’m excited about it,” Mattinson said.

Those who will receive the bags are enrolled in the Commodity Senior Food Program.

Mattinson said there is a very long waiting list to be added to the program.

“We are only allocated 83 and there are many more,” Mattinson said. She said people can ask to be added to the program.