By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

The Apache Junction City Council recently was updated on the services provided by Genesis Project, a coalition of churches banded together for the purpose of aiding the less fortunate.

The council earlier this year approved giving $11,300 in health and human services funding to the nonprofit for rent and utilities at its community resource center.

Genesis Project provides food, clothing, hydration, shower vouchers and emergency financial assistance to those in the community, Trinity Cole, Genesis Project executive director, said.

“We are a no-questions-asked organization. You come to Genesis Project, you will receive a meal, you will receive clothing, you will receive services from our local partner agencies that are represented at the community resource center,” she said at the council’s Sept. 7 meeting.

In May, the organization provided an average of about 137 meals a day, Cole said.

“We’ve seen that number hold steady the last couple of months as well,” she said.

Other services provided by Genesis Project, 564 N. Idaho Road, include a library, computer access, an on-site mentor, assistance with benefits, blankets, lockers, mail service and an on-site nurse, Cole said.

“The mail service has been a tremendous blessing to our guests who do not have a physical address that they are able to receive things such as unemployment that needed a physical address, access to cell phones... where they are able to get a phone but it cannot go to a general-delivery type thing so we are able to receive mail for our guests,” she said.

Genesis Project offers an array of services to the community, council member Robert Schroeder said.

“(A) lot of people just associate Genesis Project with a free meal and you offer so any positive programs to help people get a step in the right direction. You’re doing a great job. Thank you,” he said.

Volunteers are needed to help with the organization. Contact Genesis Project at 480-225 7757 or go to genesisprojectaz@gmail.com.

Meals are served noon-2 p.m. Sunday-Friday and donations are accepted 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday, both at 564 N. Idaho Road.

Go to genesisprojectaz.com and follow on Facebook @genesisprojectaz.

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.