A Monthly Newsletter of the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center - August 2026
Steve Crooks, Carlos, Valles, and David Godlewski
David Godlewski, president of Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) was downright skeptical listening to the pitch from Executive Director Carlos Valles and our Saguaro Skills Center team—a food bank helping us draw skilled construction workers for our businesses and sub-contractors? That’s crazy. But, the more Carlos and the team were able to answer his tough questions, and the more he heard about the success of our welding and IT Support programs at Saguaro Skills Center, the more his eyes started to open.
It all started when SAHBA’s Steve Crooks, who directs membership and community engagement, attended a Strategic Workforce Development group we hosted with our partner Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce. Steve suggested we meet with David to learn more about the industry’s concerns about attracting skilled construction employees.
After hearing about our 17 welding graduates, 11 more in two cohorts, and 53 on the waiting list, David paused. This could absolutely work. So, he linked us to the Home Builders Institute, a national learning company for the building trades with whom we now have a contract, including an agreement to certify instructors, share curriculum, and serve as an overall resource for what will be our newest programs offered by the Saguaro Skills Center.
SFB-CRC, joined by Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy, longtime supporter of our state licensed vocational school, unveiled the new partnership with SAHBA and the Home Builders Institute July 24.
By expanding and diversifying our classes at the center, we invite potential students to consider our new construction skills program in masonry, and then eventually carpentry, with national certification opportunities in both. We plan to reach out to students currently on our waiting list for welding to offer them this opportunity for a construction-related career.
It's just another example of our mission to emphasize an ongoing commitment to help regional residents find ways to become economically self-sufficient and no longer need the food bank. The Saguaro Skills Center is an integral part of that, as well as forging partnerships like this one, reaching out to community leaders and residents who share our vision of a brighter future for everyone in our community.
SFB-CRC encourages any person, or their family members or neighbors, who might have an interest in learning more to contact scastro@sfb-crc.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Chopper Specialist Signs on with SFB
Ken directing a helicopter
After 22.5 years of service as a USAF helicopter repair expert, heading a squadron of seven birds, Ken Simmons settled into civilian retirement from Raytheon as one of our most dedicated registration volunteers.
Our registrars get to know participants and their families. Volunteering nine to fourteen hours a week, Ken honors that commitment each time he greets someone to make sure they feel welcome and comfortable at the food bank.
“It’s a lot of self-reward,” he says. “I am here to serve. I like being here. I look forward to doing this and want this place to be successful.
Deployed to Afghanistan for two tours, plus Turkey, the Philippines, Kuwait, and state side in Florida and Davis Monthan, Ken actually grew up an Air Force kid in Germany and Nebraska and enlisted right out of high school. Time spent overseas made him embrace diversity and acceptance. “We all put our pants on one leg at a time. We are all the same as people.”
Ken at work
Three weeks ago a new participant came in and told Ken she had no food for her children, despite her spouse’s earnings, a victim perhaps of financial abuse in that her spouse refused to give her any money. She was in tears, so Ken took her aside, listened, and tried to comfort her, assuring her that she could find support here at SFB-CRC. “Working here we know that we have affected someone’s life,” he said later, “and we know that they are not going home starving.”
Ken’s compassion and commitment are typical of our volunteers. They do so much more than the daily tasks that keep our operation running. They offer themselves, and that’s a large part of why SFB-CRC continues to be an essential lifeline in our community for those who need a hand—and a listening ear.
Invaluable Intern
I am at peace while working here
Diego Almanzar and our bookkeeper Shannon Cornaby fostered a win/win arrangement over his Christmas break and this summer. Diego served out an internship with us, providing hands on help inputting invoices, expenses, and donations, plus making journal entries, all with Bloomerang, a brand-new platform we adopted. Diego worked with Shannon five days a week, six hours a day, even experiencing SFB-CRC passing a major government audit.
“Diego was invaluable in keeping up with the day-to-day bookkeeping while I dealt with things like payroll and audits,” Shannon explained. “He was quick, accurate, and great at figuring things out.”
Diego’s internship inspired him to shift his career goal in the business world to the non-profit world. “It’s been very rewarding to be with an organization that helps people in the community,” he said. “I appreciate what it takes to make a non-profit function.”
Diego’s father is from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he spent his career as a teacher and school administrator. His mom is from Juarez, Mexico, and has helped in family shelters. An only child, Diego reflected on the huge impact his parents had regarding his work ethic. He also mentioned all they have done in their lives to make a difference to help others.
Diego is a graduate of Nogales High School and is currently a senior in the College of Business at New Mexico State University.
He picked up the intern opportunity because his mom was taking classes with Chef Weezie. He subsequently made a connection with Kellie, our outreach manager, regarding internships.
“What I have appreciated the most is how welcoming and inviting the SFB is,” Diego shared. “I am at peace while I am here. The SFB-CRC is a healthy work environment.”
SFB-CRC’s interns provide much needed assistance and insights, too, but more importantly, they get the chance to get a peek into what might turn out to be a great new future for them.
The Latest
Owl protecting growing squash plant
Scouts Help Us Grow
Eagle Scouts Cole Hoffman and Caleb Cornaby of Troop 365, with guidance from Dennis St. John at The Good Shepherd UCC, have impressively added to our ongoing gardening tradition that provides produce for our food bank visitors and our catering operation. Joined by Adriana Opalka, who earned her Gold Award through Girl Scout Troop 264 by building a special garden bed for the little ones who come to the Family Resource Center with their families, the group built four bountiful beds for us. We also have multiple tower gardens that grow herbs and lettuce with the help of the Green Valley Gardeners and staff member Janie Pearman and volunteer Jennie Gaines.
Volunteer Rallies Rotarians
This summer Mary Greer, a Green Valley Rotary Club member and regular food bank volunteer who shines as the kind of problem-solver who tackles challenges and engages others, organized a group of eight fellow Rotarians to volunteer in food distribution and sorting produce twice a week. This is extremely helpful in summer when we lose volunteers to vacations and summer retreats. Valle Verde, Green Valley, and Tubac clubs have provided consistent funding to us for many years that further fortifies their focus on community outreach, international service, and local projects. We’re grateful for the local clubs that initiate their own, and sometimes collaborate with us, in organizing food drives along with other service clubs. What an asset to our mission.
Helpful Rotatarians
Quail Creek Women Serve Summit
The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) have been a great partner for SFB-CRC over the years, providing scholarship opportunities to women in transition and providing grants to purchase computers to build a lending library for basic computer skills students. One of our staff actually landed a good job with the help of one of the scholarships.
Kathy Brogdan leads a TWOQC team that supports Summit, a very underserved Tucson community with a high level of food insecurity, the first and third Wednesdays of every month during the school year by packing pantry bags for delivery to the community.
TWOQC’s important contributions and service help us help others in so many ways.