Sun City is known as the “City of Volunteers,” and one of them is Patricia “Tish” Alicki, Chapter Chaplain for the Sun City Agua Fria National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter.  She is also an active volunteer for an organization of about two dozen women who are known as the Caring Angels, who are affiliated with the American Legion Post 62 Auxiliary where Ms. Alicki holds the office of Sergeant of Arms.

Jody Swank formed the Caring Angels group in January 2019 and prior to the pandemic, the group met at Temple Beth Shalom in Sun City. Most supplies are kept in a member’s garage. Now all work is done at members homes. Plastic bags are sorted, folded, cut into “plarn” and then crocheted into 3’ x 6’ sleep mats. Then they are placed in backpacks along with toiletries and snacks. 

A large percentage of the donated backpacks go to homeless veterans and a small percentage goes to the Phoenix Mission.

Recently, six backpacks were given to an Auxiliary member, Candy Neagle, to take to the VA Hospital, where doctors do the distribution.

In the last year, 67 crocheted sleep mats were distributed. Ms. Alicki recruits members of both the auxiliary and the NSDAR chapter to help make and process the mats. The latest recruits are Beth Olive from the Auxiliary and members Leslie Eaton, Rita Sattazahn and Martha Jordan from the Agua Fria DAR Chapter. 

The American Legion and NSDAR’s missions are to promote Americanism and patriotism by supporting American veterans and participating in conservation by recycling as an added mission.

Ms. Swank presented a virtual program demonstrating how to make the “plarn” and making the crocheted plastic sleep mats for the November Agua Fria DAR monthly chapter virtual meeting. Donations of snacks, water, hygiene items, masks, socks, backpacks and more are always needed. Anyone wanting to help with cutting the plastic bags, making the “plarn” and/or making the mats are also welcome to participate. Contact Ms. Swank at yarning8@cox.net or Ms. Alicki at talickidar@gmail.com.  The Caring Angels do not have a website.

Editor’s note: Shirley Staggs is Agua Fria DAR Honorary Chapter Regent.