By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

How much six health and human services organizations will receive of $80,000 from the city’s coffers was recently discussed by an Apache Junction commission.

“What was really difficult for this year in particular, doing the math here, there was $184,660 of requests and of course, as we all know, $80,000 is what we have available to us for resources. So we’re going to have to make some tough decisions,” Jeffrey P. Mitchell, chairman of the Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission, said at the group’s April 25 meeting.

The commission voted to recommend that the City Council give the following:

• $11,580 to Boys and Girls Club, which had sought $35,000, approved in a 5-0 vote.
• $6,260 to Apache Junction Community Development Corp., which had sought $6,260, approved in a 4-0 vote.
• $22,800 to Genesis, which had sought $22,800, approved in a 5-0 vote.
• $5,760 to A New Leaf, which had sought $21,263, approved in a 4-0 vote.
• $3,600 to Salvation Army, which had sought $39,600, approved in a 5-0 vote; and
• $30,000 to Apache Junction Reach Out Food Bank, doing business as Superstition Community Food Bank, which had sought $50,000, approved in a 5-0 vote.

Each amount was voted on separately as two commissioners had to abstain and provide conflict of interest statements after the meeting, City Clerk Jennifer Pena said at the meeting.

Judy Borey recused herself from the vote on the funds for Apache Junction Community Development Corp. and Michael Brennan recused himself from the vote on the funds for A New Leaf.

The amounts approved in the separate votes were the last of five options the commission considered.

“Option 5 seems to be the one that is probably the fairest of all of the various manipulations that we’ve made thus far,” Brennan said prior to the votes.

The commission on May 16 will present its recommendation to the City Council. The council will vote on the amounts at a June 21 meeting, with contracts effective July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023.

The Health and Human Services Commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, provision of human services and care of the elderly, handicapped and developmentally disabled.

AJCDC

Apache Junction Community Development Corp., 300 E. Superstition Blvd. in Apache Junction, sought $6,260 for community revitalization projects, household hazardous waste transport assistance, “Make A Difference Day” projects throughout the city, Focal Point brick memorial and residential address identifiers, according to the organization’s application.

AJCDC has a mission of working to maintain and create safe affordable housing, support economic opportunities, instill a sense of community pride and commitment, and enhance the physical image of Apache Junction. The website is apachejunctioncdc.com.

A New Leaf/CAAFA

A New Leaf, 868 E University Drive in Mesa, which in July 2021 merged with Community Alliance Against Family Abuse in Apache Junction, sought $21,263 for:

• Salary — to pay for 30% of a full-time administrative support position responsible for food box distribution as well as tracking and reporting program activity, for a total of $11,232;
• Employee-related expenses — calculated at 22% of salary, for a total of $2,471;
• Food box items — these items supplement the food received from United Food Bank to ensure healthy food for families in need: $150 per month x 12 months equals $1,800; and
• Hotel nights — emergency hotel nights enable staff to assist domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors to obtain safe shelter, even when shelter beds are unavailable, for a total of $5,760.

“A New Leaf requests funding to support the continuation of food box distribution and emergency hotel nights for Apache Junction’s most vulnerable community members. The agency’s food box program supports the basic needs of struggling residents and connects survivors to other vital services,” it states in the application.

The website is turnanewleaf.org.

Boys and Girls Club

Boys & Girls Club of The Valley, 4309 E. Belleview St. Building No. 1 in Phoenix, sought funds for the Superstition Mountain Branch at 2805 S. Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction.

“BGCAZ is respectfully requesting $35,000 in support of our ‘Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles and Good Character & Leadership’ program that will empower young people to reach their full potential as productive adults. BGCAZ Superstition Mountain Branch staff are a critical support for families, providing academic support, health and wellness activities, sports leagues, healthy snacks and meals, career exploration and workforce readiness, and a positive, stable community of support of Apache Junction youth. The overall goal for youth is to improve their social-emotional development, peer and parental relationships, and academic attitudes and performance,” it states in the application.

The website is bgcaz.org.

Food bank

Superstition Community Food Bank, 575 N. Idaho Road Suite No. 701 in Apache Junction, is a regional food bank that aids individuals, families, seniors and children facing food insecurity. The website is superstitionfoodbank.org.

“We are asking for $50,000 to help purchase food and holiday food to help meet the growing need of food-insecure individuals in our community. Our need is greater due to raw material shortages, rising food and fuel prices,” it states in the application.

Genesis

Genesis Project, 564 N. Idaho Road Suite No. 5 in Apache Junction, sought $22,800 for:

• Rent, $11,200;
• Utilities $2,000; and
• Navigator salary, $9,600.

“The proposed project is to secure funding which ensures that the community resource center remains open to those in need and a navigator will be hired to further address the issue. ... Genesis Project will schedule outside agencies Monday-Friday from 11:30-2:30 and have a navigator on site for 12 hours per week,” it states in the application.

Genesis Project was founded in 2006 to address the needs of homeless individuals in Apache Junction experiencing hunger and an inability to find respite from the extreme heat. It has expanded its services over the years and now feeds, clothes, hydrates and provides a community resource center where individuals have access to all nutrition, hydration, clothing, hygiene and social services in one centralized location free of charge. The website is genesisprojectaz.com.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army Apache Junction, 605 E. Broadway Ave.,sought $39,600:

• $26,000 for a case manager.
• $10,000 for human needs supplies.
• $3,600 for support service.

The Apache Junction Corps provides food, rent, utility, homeless and seasonal assistance for those in need throughout the area, according to the application. The website is apachejunction.salvationarmy.org/apache_junction_corps.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.