Week 84 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Quiet in the neighborhood and quiet at PACC, but lots of giving energy

More often than not, it takes me a good two hours and then some to make my Sunday rounds. Friendly neighbors and a little chit chat fills the time. However, the last two weeks with stay-at-home in full force, my job is over in an hour or so. Everybody is concentrating on social distancing.

Then on Monday, after punching in the gate code, I have to park and go to the reception area to find someone to open the pet food room. Few words are spoken.

No matter, we’re still doing our job and providing a great deal of food for PACC. That’s what is important and oh, staying safe.

This week’s donation was 306.2 lbs. lbs. of pet food and a $25.00 check. In addition, there was a travel pet bowl, a large dog collar and a box of 75 quart zip bags.

See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 83 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

With Six Months to Go, 

We Only Need 1,434.1 lbs.

to Beat Last Year's Goal

We donated 8,194.0 lbs. of food to PACC in our first year. We just completed our second quarter of our second year and we have already donated a whopping 6,759.9 lbs. With everything going on in the world, PACC is experiencing a significant increase in the number of pets falling under its care. We are really helping PACC meet this new challenge.

SECOND QUARTER WEEKLY RESULTS

Thank you very much, you are making a huge difference in pet rescue in Tucson.

Meet Oscar, Our New Friend at PACC

That’s Oscar and our food is on either side of the room

 … cat food on the right and dog food on the left. 

This week there were no sentries when I drove up to the gated entrance to PACC, only a sign with phone numbers to call. I tried one and was told to leave a message and I would be called back in 24 – 48 hours.

The parking lot was nearly empty and there were only a few people moving between the Clinic and Adoption Center doors some 50 yards away. What to do?  I needed time to think anyway, so I just sat there hoping to catch someone’s attention. About l0 minutes in to this quandary, a staffer in a red PACC shirt saw me and walked across the parking lot and up to gate. His name was Oscar and he was not aware of our weekly deliveries and that the food is now stored in the conference room, but he was obliging.

I began to unload the truck and by the time I got the first wheel barrow load to the conference room, Oscar had opened the doors from the inside. Then he was off to do other things. Two wheel barrow trips later he was back and we stopped to chat and take a photo.

I learned that the staff has been divided into essential and non-essential, with Bennett, our old friend and contact, falling on the latter list. Is he okay? Does he need income? I need his personal contact information, can you get that for me?

I could see Kristen, the executive director on an animated video conference call near the Adoption Center doors so she could not be disturbed. Oscar said he would talk to her about our conversation and get me the information I requested.

After climbing back into the cab and shutting the door, I sat for a few minutes contemplating what just happened. This virus things is really closing in on everyone. Then I remembered the lady who interrupted our chat in the conference room. She had a stray pup she brought to PACC and she wanted someone to take care of the dog immediately. My first thought was she must have tailgated someone through the security gate.

Oscar told her she has to call to make an appointment as the sign on the gate states. She became more instant telling us she drove a long way to get to PACC.

“This is a crisis, and a very dangerous situation,” I interjected through my red mask. “You must leave and call for an appointment to keep everyone safe.”

“I guess this is how it has to be,” she replied as she turned and left the conference room. I apologized to Oscar for jumping in on the conversation but he didn’t mind.

People have been living this dilemma for weeks now and they still only think of themselves. That, too, is dangerous.

Ready to leave, I put the truck in gear and then I saw Oscar signal to me to wait a minute. As he got close he told me through my open window that Kristen was still on the call but he gave all of my info to her assistant who will contact me soon with Bennett’s information.

As I wound up the driveway and drove through the electrical gate to the stoplight I was already thinking about what might happen next week. Well, at least I now have Oscar to help me through whatever comes up because he’s on duty every Monday.

This week’s donation was 324.9 lbs. lbs. of pet food and $35.00 in two check. In addition, there was 1 small pet bowl and 1 dog collar.

Our cash donation is no longer handed directly to a CSR on a computer who issues a receipt. The money is now placed in an envelope with our account number on it and given to the person who checks me in. (See clipboard above.) Haven’t received an official receipt yet for our last donation, but that may happen soon since Oscar will intervene for us.   

Be Safe and See you Sunday,

Peter

Week 82 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

“Are any of the folks u know in the neighborhood in need of food?”

That’s the question Lee, my friend and neighbor on 12^th Street asked me in an early Monday morning email. I had no response at first. Night owls aren’t too nimble in the morning sunlight.

Halfway through breakfast for me and my fur buddies, I conjured up an image from the day before of my friend Barbara on Miles Street doing yardwork. She’s a bartender at the Congress Hotel who was suddenly out of work. Then Ed came to mind.

When I created the idea of One Can A Week back in late 2008, he’s the first guy I asked about starting a food drive. Many of you may remember the story. He was a city housing inspector and he told me all about those empty food cabinets he encountered daily. That was all I needed to hear.

Ed is a father-figure for many single working-mothers and their kids in Miles. He helps Barbara and so many more families. He said he needed help from “the village” when he was a kid and now he’s just passing it on.      

Ed Altamirano and Kahlua – 2011

I answered Lee’s question in an email. “Yes, her name is Barbara and she is a bartender who lost her job. She lives on Miles. My friend Ed on Miles would know more about her situation. Also he may know more folks in the neighborhood. Tell me what you are thinking and I'll call Ed.”

Lee replied, “well just come get cash from me and get it to her.”

After my call with Ed, I picked up and delivered Lee’s envelope with a number of $20 bills inside. On the face were the words, “Ed’s Stash.” That made us laugh.

Ed then showed me his project idea book with 8 family names listed on the back page. He had already stated planning on how to manage the money for those folks under his wing.

There must be a following act

Right then I realized Ed will need more money so another idea showed up. When I get the two checks from the government in May (see, some optimism here) I will give half to Ed. And maybe more neighbors will help Ed out, too, or come up with their own list of families they know who will need help.

This problem won’t go away even when Barbara and others go back to work. It will take years to recover from this virus, mentally, physically and financially. I plan on sticking it out with my neighbors for the long haul. If you’d like to help Ed with cash donations, just give me a call or send an email.

And if you are going to do your own thing, I’d like to hear those stories, too.

PACC in Lockdown

The food delivery was make outside the locked gate Monday.

(See red arrow.) I was allowed in to donate the check but

dealt with a staffer outside on the sidewalk. A receipt will be

mailed to me.

The seriousness of our situation really hit home today. For me, it feels as perilous as the time I was in the Army at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma during Viet Nam and assigned to be a medic. Normally medics were trained in Texas for 12 weeks and then stationed in a hospital for 12 weeks. I was stationed in a hospital in an accelerated program.

The stories in the Army Times newspaper covered platoons or companies in battle which included the number of injured or killed. The stats were noteworthy. But always the last paragraph in the article would state the number of medics killed who were in another platoon or company not related to the focus of the story. For instance the number would be 44 or more.

I had to find another job. The only free time was Saturday afternoons so I put on my dress uniform and walked around the headquarters building. I discovered the Public Information Office and also discovered they had an opening for a reporter. The medical company released me because I told them I was a writer and wanted to be an officer. Fortunately, the Army was desperate for officers and I was just as desperate to save my life, so I lied my face off.

It’s different this time though. You can’t be clever, you can’t maneuver, you can’t move to a different planet. You just have to wash your hands, not touch your face, stay at home, and stay 6 feet or more away from folks when you cautiously shop for food. There’s one more thing. You have to be careful but you have to help those in need every chance you get. That makes this fight worth it.  

This week’s donation was 314.6 lbs. of pet food (see red arrow in PACC gate photo above) and $50.00 in one check. In addition, there was 1 small pet bowl, 1 dog harness and 1 pill bottle.

Be Safe and See you Sunday,

Peter 

Week 81 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Going With the Flow

Last week everything was normal at Pima Animal Care Center. This week Social Distancing was in full force. Lines were moved outside and six-feet spacing between folks was designated by blue tape on the sidewalks. (See red arrows.) The place felt safer. Again Kristen Auerbach, the Executive Director was outside and ushered me quickly through the line so I could make our donation.

As an aside, I’m a walk around manager and was seldom in my office. When there is a lot going on, you can get a lot done if you have your finger on the pulse of the operation. That’s how Kristen runs PACC, too. And you can feel the efficiency everywhere. 

There was one precursor last week of pending change. The donated food was being moved from a space next to the reception desk near the front door to the conference room. There was little food in the large room when I made our donation. Today, food covered half the wall space.

Most of our food is repackaged for the pets of the homeless. You can see those bags on the left. During my quick visit I overheard a volunteer tell a woman “not to worry if she does not see the kind of dog she wants, next month they expect to rescue 2,000 new pets.” Good heavens! So glad we are supporting PACC in their formidable mission to save all those animals.    

My rounds this weekend were quick and quiet. A number of folks were not home and no donations were left for me to pick up. Consequently, the collection Sunday was on the sparse side. I know once we get a handle on this new reality, pet food donations will head back up to the 300 lb. mark.

This week’s donation was 82.3 lbs. of pet food and $25.00 in three checks. In addition, there was 1 small steel pet bowl and 6 pill bottles.

See you Sunday,

Peter 

Week 80 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Rescued Critters Food Drive

to Continue Through Pandemic

From the very first, the Rescued Critters Food Drive was designed to involve very little human contact after the first neighborly chat. Every Sunday our participants leave their donation on the doorstep which I pick up while leaving behind a Thank You card.

There is little threat of contamination and all those hungry PACC dogs and cats can still be feed weekly.

As more restrictions are established for families to shelter in place, restaurants around the country will begin to follow our system of door-to-door food delivery.

Tracking the Coronavirus daily will help

keep you feeling more in control

NPR’s Daniel Wood, Elena Renken and Stephanie Adeline have created a daily updated chart of Coronavirus cases based on data supplied by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Here is the link: Map: Tracking the Spread of the Coronavirus in the U.S.
What we are experiencing is a major historical event involving every human on the planet. The Coronavirus landed in Washington state on January 21. What you see on the chart dated March 16, is just 56 days later. If we all follow our doctors’ orders, we will flatten the curve in a few months. If we party like there is no tomorrow … there will be no tomorrow.

Things to think about in your safe home.

Studying and working from home is taking off very quickly. Who knew they had all that in place already. This means the commute is on the way out as are the autos and nasty carbon emissions.

New Flowers in the Alley

When my new neighbors Ed and Carlos moved into their new home on Miles Street a few months ago, they quickly planted 16 Aloe plants along their alley fence. Just as quickly the plants shriveled up and looked quite dead. (See photo strip at bottom of the image)

It was something I pondered every day because I pass that part of the alley in the evening while walking my pups. Then yesterday as I drove by in my truck I caught a glimpse of a pink stem and stepped on the brakes.

From a mess of some dehydrated and curled Aloe leaves stands a flower shining in the sun. All that rain last week worked a little magic. So the world isn’t such a menacing place after all. There is always hope.  

This week’s donation was 275.8 lbs. of pet food and $15.00 in two checks. In addition, there was 1 cat collar, 1 bag of dog treats, 1 small steel pet bowl and 82 pill bottles.

See you Sunday,

Peter 

Week 79 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

Counting on Our Neighbors

Two short weeks ago, Sarah, my neighbor on 12^th Street told me about the new homeless encampment just above the Arroyo Chico runoff canal at the foot of the park. I talked to the police and folks at Environmental Services and was told to send Pat Tapia, the Deputy Director a photograph.

Within a few days, Lisa, another neighbor who lives in Barrio San Antonio, stopped me while I was walking my pups and told me the mess was gone.

Check out the photo above. The inset photo at the bottom left is the before image.

Last week Bob, my neighbor on Miles helped me move two double bed mattresses from the alley behind the apartment on 12^th Street to the alley at the intersection of Cherry and 13^th Street. We placed them next to two large, really worn out refrigerators. Everything was gone after lunch today.

The point is, if you see something say something to me. Having so many eyes, watching all of the streets in our neighborhood will keep all of us happy and safe.

More good news … the roll-offs will arrive Friday March 20^th and stay until Tuesday morning, March 24^th. You will receive a printed notice on Sunday, March 15^th.

Want to see how PACC and our food

is helping pets of Homeless Vets?

Come to the 2020 Tucson Veterans Stand Down Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

This week’s donation was 269.9 lbs. of pet food and a $10.00 check. In addition, there was 1 box of treats, 2 tennis balls, 75 qt. zip bags and 4 pill bottles.

See you Sunday,

Peter 

Week 78 - Rescued Critters Food Drive

Hi Folks,

A Matter of Jurisdiction

On Sunday, Sarah, my neighbor on 12^th Street, asked me if I had seen the homeless encampment at the fringe of the Arroyo Chico Park near 12^th and Fremont. I had not and wasn’t looking for one since the arroyo was cleaned up by the police a few weeks ago.

Our conversation then turned to a friend of hers who was trying to help a homeless person get shots and neutering services for a Pit Bull puppy she found.

After my rounds I sent Sarah information on free clinics in March and contact information for Liana Moss at PACC who helps run the homeless outreach program.

On my way back from delivering our donations to PACC today, I turned on Fremont, drove to the curve on 12^th and stopped. It didn’t take me long to spot the encampment. It was a massive mess of bikes, tarps and furniture about 75 yards across the drainage ditch.  

The red arrow in the photo indicates the location of the homeless

encampment. Even at 75 years, one can see the magnitude of

the mess.

From my experience years ago with homeless camps in the arroyo, I knew one has to call the police to force folks to leave. Soon after I arrived home I sent Sarah another email asking if she or someone else contacted the police. Nope, and she would appreciate it if I made the call. She closed with “Thank you for your vigilante, Sarah.”

Two minutes later Sarah sent another email saying, “Oops, Vigilance!”

Got the joke, but I realize folks are often hesitant to step up and face that confrontational tension. I experience that same uncertain feeling every time I have to confront an issue. But to tell you the truth, I dislike even more how I feel when folks mess with my neighborhood.

Closeup of the homeless encampment that appeared about

4 days ago.

After lunch I called the police. Had to tell my story three times and identify myself three times to three different people … two police personnel and one City staffer.

The 911 operator passed me over to the non-emergency desk. She took down all the information and located the encampment on a map. Then I was transferred to Tucson Customer Service (520) 791-3202. This is where the whole process came together for me.

If there is just a mess, I can do what I always do. Take a photograph and send the information to Pat Tapia at Environmental Services. If there are homeless folks involved I have to start with the police. But it would be very helpful if I take photographs and send them to Pat who is part of the team in these situations.

In our many conversations, Pat told me that the Environmental Services Department and the Tucson Police Department know for sure that “a clean neighborhood is a safe neighborhood.” That’s a fact but I didn’t see the actual connection of the two departments … until now.

This week’s donation was 305.1 lbs. of pet food and $11.00 in cash and one check. In addition, there were 2 bags of treats, 1 roll of bags, 1 small diaper, and 17 pill bottles. (Special note: dog food is in the large white bags.)

See you Sunday,

Peter