The Fueling the Future crew are, from left, (front) Edie Crall, Lilly Sigfried, Robbye Rutledge, Tyrus Gonzales, Ayisha Valenzuela, Catherine Harchick and Theresa Rodriguez; (back) Jeanne Herstead, Crystle Nehrmeyer, Terrance Franklin, Claude Huffman and Billy Bemis. Photo by Lauren Carnes
By Edie Crall
Fueling The Future has experienced its fifth successful year of providing food to 75 Mountain Vista School students and families who would face food insecurity during the school’s winter break. These students rely upon school breakfasts and lunches during the regular school year.
Non-perishable food donations as well as monetary contributions were collected at various sites in SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch and Oracle. Perishable foods such as fruits/vegetables, eggs and milk were purchased and, with the assistance of Henry Movers of Catalina, were transported to the school where volunteers organized, sorted and bagged the food.
This year, student volunteers Reese Crue, Rowan Egan, Jordyn Paulsen, Aurelia Chavez and Ariza Chavez sorted and bagged the non-perishable food while fellow students Robbye Rutledge, Lilly Siegfried, Tyrus Gonzales and Terrance Franklin provided their assistance loading the bagged food into recipient’s vehicles. Dan Hibner, Treasurer, Oracle Community Center, provided monetary management of the project. Claude Huffman, Lead Maintenance, and Billy Bemis, Skilled Maintenance at Mountain Vista School, provided invaluable assistance to the project. This could not have been done without the “Team”.
Fueling the Future, a grassroots community project, is only successful due to the generous community members and volunteers. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and/or donated funds. Without you, this project to feed our students and assist in their future, would not be possible. Again, thank you.
Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and joyful 2025.