Heading into the holidays, the Bread of Life Mission in Holbrook is gearing up for their Thanksgiving Dinner, which will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, and is open to anyone in the community who doesn’t want to spend Thanksgiving alone.
Right now the mission needs extra turkeys for the dinner as well other food, including but not limited to, potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Executive Director Cherise Merrick said that food is always a critical need at the mission and they are able to take any kind of excess food people might have, including game and meats, fresh or frozen. “We can take leftovers from parties, weddings, funerals,” said Merrick. “The Holbrook schools regularly bring us the leftovers from their cafeterias.”
Thanks to the efforts of Twyla Taylor, an amazing volunteer from Holbrook, the mission now has a chicken coop that houses 27 hens. Merrick said she did mention to the chickens last month that if they didn’t start laying eggs soon, they would be the Thanksgiving birds. “Within a week, they were laying and we are using those eggs,” Merrick said with a smile.
Merrick said the numbers of people needing help are increasing every year. “The length of each person’s stay is determined individually. They have an option of being a part of the one year disciple program that is for those who want to dig in and resolve their own issues through Bible study and one-on-one mentoring by volunteers in the community.”
One of the biggest needs aside from food is a truck. “Just a good, old pick-up truck that is running, would help so much,” said Merrick, who also said that the mission is able to give a tax write-off for donations. The mission can take most used vehicles, even ones that need to be fixed up.
Cash donations are where the majority of the funding for the mission comes from and are always welcome. With the end of year coming and tax season around the corner, Merrick wanted to remind folks that the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit has doubled. Any cash gift given to the mission as a resident of Arizona is eligible to be claimed as a tax credit, not just a deduction, on state taxes: up to $400 for singles and $800 for couples filing jointly. More information is available on the mission’s website at www.bolmaz.com.
Each year Bread of Life Banquet and Auction is to help raise funds and this year was the most successful yet.
At least 200 people attended and there were more than 80 donors contributing to the silent and live auctions, including a life-size mannequin specially made for the mission auction by Kim Reed, a resident of Holbrook. “It was our biggest success yet,” shared Merrick. “We had great volunteers and great help.”
Every year, the event puts on a contest and this year was no different, with Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark putting on his best “fashion” moves against the Holbrook Police Chief Nathan Christensen. Clark competed in his cutest outfit named Pumpkin Spice, and handed out fake flowers to win the votes, Christensen, also dressed in his finest as Galaxia, “took the lead” and won by five votes.
Voting was done through the purchase of $50 tickets, with all of those proceeds going to the mission. Merrick noted that up until that night, Clark had been undefeated in the fashion costume challenges he had done over the years. “KC and Nathan’s efforts brought us $3,365 raised before and during the event,” said Merrick.
The live auction was headed-up by Bill Jeffers, a local cattleman. “He’s not officially an auctioneer, but he sure makes the event fun,” said Merrick. During the event, six people who had been helped through the mission shared their stories and how their lives had turned around as a result of the mission.
Merrick said the mission sheltered between 45 to 53 homeless men, women and children every night, all summer long. With the approach of winter, she expects these numbers to increase. “There are only 34 beds, so everyone else is on a mat on the floor,” said Merrick. “It is amazing how this small community supports so many and we thank everyone for the donations of food, household goods, tools and money as well as prayers, time and talent.”
For more information on how you can help call (928) 524-3874.
