Week 40 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Standing Up is Catching On

in the Miles Neighborhood

Got the following email notice on May 20^th from Becky Flores in the Development Services Department, Neighborhood Services.

GREETINGS:

Don't Forget To Use The One Entitled 

Neighborhood Association Mailing by June 07, 2019

The rest of the email told me I could send out a postcard, meeting notice or newsletter.

Huh! The newsletter piqued my interest because I was mulling over ways to tell folks about my alley clean-up project. A 4-color mailer could really get the job done quickly. I called Becky and she said I had a choice between a 2- or 4-page newsletter.

That was Monday, by Wednesday, the 23^rd, I had approval on a 2-page newsletter and now all I had to do was wait by the mail box. Many days before June 7^th the newsletter arrived. Nice surprise. The next surprise was my neighbor Rich on 13^th Street stopped me while walking my pups and asked to be put on the list. He got it that he would become the contact for his alley. He smiled as if he liked the responsibility. Started cleaning that alley today.

A few days later I received an email from Brenda, on 13^th Street near Campbell Avenue. We’ll meet tomorrow.

After my last call Sunday, I met two neighbors, Chloe and Dayne who are new to the neighborhood. We had a very pleasant conversation about fixing up their home, and of course, different ways to spiff up the alley.

Clean alleys are important but having neighbors who want to keep them clean … that’s the best.

Speaking of standing up, this week we donated 139.4 lbs. of pet food and $135.70 in cash and one check. Also, there were hand towels, pill bottles and harnesses. You might have guessed; this is one of the most generous weeks ever.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 39-Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Asking for help makes for
a very safe neighborhood

When I moved into the Miles Neighborhood at the start of 2003, there were a lot of homeless living in the wash and traipsing the neighborhood daily. Not a secure situation but we all just lived with it.

About a year after I founded One Can A Week in 2009, Bill Richards, the then president of the Miles Neighborhood Association, introduced me to Maen Mdanat, the new owner of the Axis Food Mart one Sunday afternoon. We hit it off right from the beginning because he was incredibly sincere.

In the next few months we had lots of conversations and I got an idea. I asked Maen if he could help me clean up the neighborhood and get rid of the problem customers, those that slept and drank in the alley; the panhandlers, too.

Turns out, Maen was in the Jordanian Army and was trained for such assignments. Click on the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktr_XzKdJEU)

On my side of the bargain, I helped Maen put in a scanner and increase the number of women customers by about 90%. In those early days, few women came to the store because there was always a chance of harassment. I may have brought up the subject, but Maen solved the problem with his charming personality and scores of verbal and physical smack downs. 

On my side of the bargain, I helped Maen put in a scanner and increase the number of women customers by about 90%. In those early days, few women came to the store because there was always a chance of harassment. I may have brought up the subject, but Maen solved the problem with his charming personality and scores of verbal and physical smack downs.

Next, I learned about the Environmental Services’ roll-off program—not sure how, though—and since there was no Miles Neighborhood Association president at the time—I got 10 neighbor signatures and we were good to go.

As days passed, I fixed the potholes a number of times, worked with Vice Mayor and Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres to help get the attention of folks at Tucson Department of Transportation and Environmental Services. There was always a backlog of some sort, but he and Mark Kerr, his Chief of Staff, were able to move Miles to the head of the line.

Recently, I met Pat Tapia, Deputy Director, Environmental and General Services Department, and the word “clean-up” became a key element in the safety of the Miles Neighborhood. Both Environmental Services and the Tucson Police Department make it known that “A clean neighborhood is a safe neighborhood,” and they are doing everything in their power to help.

You may have noticed lately that piles of trash such as mattresses, tires, furniture, etc. disappear quickly. That is Pat’s doing. When I see piles anywhere in Miles, I take a photo and send Pat an email explaining the situation. Within 24-48 hours his team picks it up. By the way, the mattress and small dresser on S. Martin will be disappeared by Wednesday.

Right now, with Pat’s help, we have cleaned up alleys for Josie and Lee and those alleys are staying that way. Folks even stop my weed whacking to thank me.

On May 31^st, I published a 13-page guide explaining how one person who really loves his or her neighborhood can make things very clean and safe. You just have to talk to folks and ask for help.

For a copy of the guide, please email pnorback@cox.net. I am hoping you have friends in another neighborhood who may want to make a big change, too. So, just pass it forward. And thanks.

This week we donated 18.7 lbs. of pet food and $61.20 in cash and two checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 38 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Cause

This week we donated 162.7 lbs. of pet food and $76.28 in cash and two checks. That translates into 247.5 lbs. of pet food for the week. Since our new average is 124 lbs. per week—from 83 lbs.— to attain our new goal, it appears we are going to crush that one, too. (See below.)

Steve, my neighbor and friend, loves cats and he lives and takes very good care of a number of them. He also takes care of a number of cat charities in town and decided to put our Rescued Critters Food Drive on his list. Besides the volume of food Steve donates each week, I like the exercise I get hefting all those bags from his home to my home and then to PACC on Monday. My doctor says he likes it, too … the hefting. 

Effect

So far this year, our total pet food donation to PACC is 5,192.6 lbs. With 14 weeks to go, we can easily make 3.2 tons or 6,490 lbs. of pet food.

But just think, if another cat or dog lover steps up like Steve, we will achieve a goal that will put the Miles Neighborhood in the record books … and feed so many thousands of rescued dogs and cats.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 37 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Always Better than Our Average

This week we donated 15.3 lbs. of pet food and $68.25 in cash and one check. That translates into 91.1 lbs. of pet food for the week.

Based on our original formula, we needed to donate 83 lbs. of pet food each week to PACC to reach 4,333 lbs. in one year. Last week we met that goal and we still have 15 weeks to go. So, our actual weekly average is 124.8 lbs. If we keep it up, this will generate another ton of food for an annual total of 6,490.6 lbs. or 3.3 tons.

Yeah, Miles.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 36 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Almost as Good as a Ride Along

For years, I’ve had an open invitation for anyone who wishes to join me on my Sunday collections and my Monday deliveries. He or she just has to ask. To date, no one has.

On Saturday, Steve, my friend and neighbor, gave me four thirty-pound bags of cat food that were resting at our feet. (He had already dropped another bag at my home earlier in the week.)

We were standing in his driveway and my truck was parked at the curb 10 feet away. “What do you do with these,” he asked? I take them to PACC on Monday around 1 pm after they open at noon, I responded.

Huh, I’ll bet a lot of folks have that same question, I thought. Then an idea jumped into my head. What if I take my camera phone and my Nikon SLR tripod on a Ride Along? (Velcro and duct tape was the glue that bonded the relationship.) This approach may help my participants see exactly how I collect, tally and deliver all their donations to Pima Animal Care Center.

To start, that’s me above admiring all their generosity … and Steve sure can see how much he is helping rescued cats.  

Next, I carefully load the truck. There was so much food this time I had to include my new black wheelbarrow. Notice the camera phone squeezed in some of the garden stuff, especially the milkweed on the right. 

With my truck in the background, the camera phone captured me struggling to balance the 160 lb. plus load and the PACC hours of operation sign.

PACC wants all the food donations delivered to the front desk, stacked neatly, of course.

I was drafted during Nam so I understand the concept of, “hurry up and wait” Interesting that the camera phone caught some of that military bearing.

PACC calls them clerks, (see the bottom of the receipt below), but I prefer Customer Service Representative. Those folks have to know a lot in addition to just taking cash and in-kind donations. The wait sometime is 10 or 15 minutes because the CSRs must explain the whole process to people adopting a pet that includes pet owner responsibilities and medical services provided by PACC. They never let a pet go without lots of paper signing and lots of words about pet care.

My turn comes and it only takes a few minutes to complete the transaction. The CSR counts the money and then tells me the amount. I check my Inventory Sheet (below) to see if we match. We always do because she’s good and I check my work many times before I get to PACC.

All the cash and check donations are counted according to denomination. Even the change is counted in four different sandwich bags. That helps me keep the count straight and helps the CSR make an accurate count … every time.

The food is counted by adding the ounces of each can size and dividing the total by 16 ounces.

Lastly, special items like harnesses, towels and pill bottles are listed in the last column.

The In-Kind form is filled out before I go to PACC. It’s an honor system and is similar to Good Will. The donor is responsible of the accuracy of the form and the value, if any, placed on the donation for tax purposes. None of the Rescued Critters Food Drive donations are given a tax value nor does anyone claim a tax credit. We are strictly a donation vehicle, not a legal entity such as a non-profit.

This is the official cash and check receipt. It is stapled to the In-Kind form and the Inventory Sheet. Each week has these three documents as our official record. From time to time we compare notes with PACC accounting to make sure everything we donate is recorded accurately.

The Best for Last

This week we donated 165.0 lbs. of pet food and $58.96 in cash and one check.

So, in Week 36, we reached our annual PACC donation goal of 4,333 lbs. In fact, we surpassed the goal by 194.4 lbs. for a total of 4,527.4 lbs. This is very exciting to me because we have 16 more weeks to go before our first-year anniversary date.

This is more than wonderful … and just think about how many pets we are feeding. Remember, one pound feeds a lot of little dogs … or one big one. We’re feeding thousands, big and small.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 35 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

What a Week!

Wednesday, May 1st

Special Feature: The Rescued Critters Food Drive: Making a Difference for Animals… One Door at a Time

The Tucson Dog Magazine published a comprehensive article by Emily Dieckman on our Rescued Critters Food Drive. Click on the link above to see the full-page feature.

Thursday. May 2nd

Had a display table at the two-hour PACC Teacher Appreciation Night event and talked to teachers about Rescued Critters Food Drive in addition to our One Penny for One Minute of Community Service program. Lots of interest and handed out lots of flyers explaining our program.

Friday, May 3rd

The four roll-offs showed up early Friday and when they left early Monday morning they were stuffed to the brim. On Sunday, folks expressed how glad they were that we have such a free program in the Miles Neighborhood. 

Saturday, May 4th

Wore my birthday gift tee shirt to Safeway and lost my invisibility. Several folks, young and a little older, stopped and complimented me on my attire. “Shame you can only ware it once a year,” a helpful clerk lamented.

 Sunday, May, 5th ... A Twofer Day

Early in the morning, the ArizonaStar published Gloria Knott’s wonderful article which was almost four months in the making. I even thought the photo was quite good. Run your mouse over they copy and click on the link in the story to read Gloria’s full account. 

This week we donated 43.9 lbs. of pet food and $166.48 in cash and four checks. The dollars were significant so I decided to check out were our tallies stood.

Another Big Surprise! Our annual goal is 4,333 lbs. of pet food. As of Monday, we have donated exactly 4,296.9 lbs. Next week, which is Week 36, we only need—interestingly enough—36.1 pounds to attain our goal. And that is going to be a piece of cake since I already have a 30 lb. bag of cat food donated by Steven, my friend and neighbor.

And based on a 35-week average of 122.8 lbs., we can now project an annual total of 6,385.6 lbs. Instead of 2.2 tons, we are projected to donate a whopping 3.2 tons to PACC. The best part is, I couldn’t have done it without my generous Miles neighbors.

Now that we have a new goal in our future, let’s see how we destroy that one, too.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 34 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Much More Than a Food Drive

Gina Hansen, PACC’s Volunteer Coordinator asked me to present the Rescued Critters Food Drive program to a couple of classes at Amphi Middle School last Thursday, April 25^th. As I approached the front of the first class, Gina said I have 10 or 15 minutes to talk.

Twenty-five minutes later I was hurrying to end the presentation. What piqued everyone’s interest was the comment I made about Rescued Critter Food Drive being a community service program in addition to a pet food drive. Of course, I collect PACC donations on Sunday, but I also arranged for the city to fix 50-plus potholes recently and for TEP to fix six broken street lights around the neighborhood and then clean three very messy alleys with the help of Pat Tapia, Deputy Director of the Environmental & General Services Department.

In between classes, the teacher, Mrs. Coleman took me aside and asked how I did all those things because she was trying to clean up her neighborhood, too, but with little success. The first thing I asked her was, did she know her Ward Council Member? “No.” she replied. Interesting, because that person is the key to any successful neighborhood clean-up program.

You do all the paperwork and fill out all the forms and follow up dutifully with city contacts, but when things go too slowly or not at all, your Ward Council Member can move mountains. For years, I have worked very closely with Vice Mayor and Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres, Mark Kerr, his Chief of Staff and Mary Fimbres, Richard’s wife. They make me an effective project manager without my having to get into a power struggle with the process.

Mrs. Coleman’s reaction to my comment about the Rescued Critters Food Drive being just one aspect of a comprehensive neighborhood management program gave me an idea. In the next few weeks, I am creating a how-to-handbook, if you will, on how to clean up and maintain a neighborhood. Names, numbers, request forms, city web links and the rationale behind filling potholes, picking up trash and speaking to folks without giving into frustration. There are 146 neighborhoods in Tucson that need help and the city is stepping up, so we’ve got to do the same.

Oh, and you’ll be happy to learn that Mrs. Coleman is talking to her people to implement the Rescued Critters Food Drive program at Amphi Middle School

This week we donated 113.3 lbs. of pet food and $126.73 in cash and two checks.

See you Sunday,

Peter