By Chris Caraveo
Twitter: @ChrisCaraveo31

A food bank based out of Sun City is seeing nearly 500 clients per day and needs volunteers as some of their most vulnerable helpers are having to step away due to the new coronavirus.

Valley View Community Food Bank, 10771 W. Peoria Ave., Sun City, is mobilizing to answer as many requests for help as possible as the COVID-19 epidemic has sent people scurrying for food and other supplies.

Jesse Ramirez, founder and president of the non-profit organization, says that in one day he received more than 160 calls on his emergency phone from people desperate for assistance. The food bank is seeing as many as 500 clients per day, many of them who have never asked for help before, according to an email from Treasurer Jody Serey.

Food counselors and other agencies are also turning to Valley View for help.

With the cancellation of school, and the shuttering of many businesses for an unknown length of time, people are scrambling to provide basic necessities for children, grandchildren, and themselves.

“We are in need of more donations, especially food, personal hygiene items, and cleaning and sanitation supplies," Mr. Ramirez stated.

He says that the cost of staple food items such as rice and beans – if these items can even be acquired right now – have doubled and tripled.

While monetary donations to facilitate the purchase of needed resources is extremely helpful, items to make soup, canned tomatoes and fresh produce are also welcomed. Valley View says grocers are not supplying produce because of the increased volume of buying being experienced now in retail establishments.

Anyone wanting to donate items should only do so at the Sun City location in the southwest corner of 107th and Peoria avenues.

In addition, volunteers are needed to take the place of regular volunteers who cannot assist in the food bank because of their increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or exposing a vulnerable family member.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare food boxes and deliver them to homebound seniors in the Sun Cities. Deliveries are only being made to Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand.

"Right now, we are asking volunteers to use their own vehicles," Ms. Serey said. "Our fleet is limited and in constant use."

To donate, visit www.feedingaz.org. To volunteer to help pack boxes or deliver food in the Sun Cities, call Martha Ovalle, Volunteer Coordinator, at 602-486-4285.

"The most we need volunteers is Monday and Tuesday," Ms. Ovalle said, adding they've been busy all week. "We've been having people non-stop, from when we open until we close."

While Valley View volunteers normally help place supplies into people's vehicles, they are now pulling out a cart of items and having visitors put their items in their own vehicles for sanitation purposes.

“All health and safety protocols are being observed, and we are sanitizing three times a day," Mr. Ramirez stated. "We have purchased gloves, face masks, and hand sanitizers. We are taking every precaution to keep our volunteers, employees, and clients safe."

 “In my decades in food banking, I have never seen anything more disturbing. People are crying and are so afraid of the future. We have to find ways to help each other. We are all in this together, and together is the only way to address this historic crisis.”

For more information, contact Jesse Ramirez at vvcfb@yahoo.com.