2023 PROJECTS
Keep on eye on this area!
2022 PROJECTS
2022 – Readers 4 Life Kindergarten and 8th grade
In December we were able to purchase books for 8th graders and kindergartners at Prince Elementary and Amphitheater Middle School. We have a mentoring program for the 8th graders and our mentors encouraged the 8th graders to help kindergartners become interested in reading. The kids paired up and read to the kindergartners after they selected a book. Our funds were able to buy 120 8th grade level and 120 kindergarten level, so every child got a book and there were extras for the teachers to give out as incentives. All books were labeled with our organization and our chapter website. All books came with a Rocky the Reader for Life Raccoon bookmark
Here are some pictures of the 8th graders and Kindergartners reading books from the Pioneers. Each student received a book!
2022 – School Supply Drive with donations to Pueblo Gardens PreK-8 School, Laguna Elementary School and Cavette Elementary School
It’s that time of year, school’s in session for Pima County and again this year our team of volunteers have pulled off an epic donation. This year, Ayla Patton headed up the project and with her army of shoppers and a few dedicated volunteers, she was able to deliver school supplies to three very appreciative public schools. This project was made possible in conjunction with the Pioneers Network grant program as well as funds from our local Southern Arizona Combined Club. In all, we were able obtain more than $800 in needed school supplies for the public schools in our area. A big thank you to Ayla Patton, Anna Patton, David Spear and all the Pioneers who dropped off or donated school supplies for this project.
2022 – School Mentoring with Amphi Middle School
SACC has a long history of mentoring in our public schools and this year was so exception. Our Pioneers have spent every Monday (as well as other events) mentoring the children in the Amphitheater School District and specifically this year at Amphi Middle School. Along with our community partners at Pantano Christian Church, we also partnered on special projects including packing and supplying backpacks at the beginning of the school year. One of our dedicated Pioneers and mentors, Joe Smothers passed away last year and his son Patrick wanted to honor his memory and decided to join our mentoring group by helping on his days off.
On April 12th, the Amphitheater school board had us attend their meeting and they recognized us with Certificates and flowers. Then on the 25th there was a luncheon for us at a Tucson Police Station and again we were honored. In addition, three mentors were recognized by their police departments with special awards. We also thanked Linda Acosta, a fellow Pioneer with a small thank you gift for her continued support. If you are interesting in joining our mentoring group, please feel free to contact Sherry Daughtry at (520) 296-2304 or via email at sddaugh@cox.net.
Feb 2022 – LuLu Walker Elementary School
Mike and Mary Rhodes took 177 books to LuLu Walker Elementary school Feb 16, 2022 and gave them to Karen Wadhams the Assistant Administrator who will see that they are handed out to all of the 2nd and 3rd grade students. Th books came at a good time because this week they are celebrating Love Of Reading Week. Thank you Mike and Mary for all your hard work!
2021 PROJECTS
2021 – Final School Supply Drive of the season – San Xavier Mission
Final delivery of school supplies to San Xavier Mission. We met with office secretary Maria to make the safe delivery!
2021 – School Supply Drive
Mary See, Adella Mason and Joella Smith donating school supplies to C E Rose Elementary School.
School Supply Delivery to Roberts-Naylor K-8 & Lineweaver Elementary
Mary & Adella did a supply drop-off’s July 30, 2021 at Lineweaver and (office manager Katie) and Roberts-Naylor K-8 (office manager Luba).
Both were overjoyed & very appreciative!
Readers 4 Life – Walter Douglas Elementary
Mike and Mary Rhodes delivered 200 individually bagged books to Walter Douglas Elementary March 31, 2021. Principal McAllister was happy to accept them and get them distributed to their 2nd and 3rd grade students. This project was dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Reno, long time Pioneer and supporter of readers for life and education in Southern Arizona.
Readers 4 Life – Quail Run Elementary
Readers for Life, in memory of Marilyn Reno, books for 2nd and 3rd graders at Quail Run Elementary. 200 books were given to the students. Books were separately bagged with a bookmark and a personal note from Rocky, the reader for life raccoon. Mr Forrester and Ms Patton received the books and distributed them to all the 2nd and 3rd grade classes. The kids were so excited to get them. March 22, 2021.
Thank you to our volunteer team, Patti & Larry Pace. They bagged all the items at home and held them for a week in quarantine before delivery to make sure the kids and staff were kept safe!
2020 PROJECTS
Readers 4 Life
Mike and Mary Rhodes delivered 180 books to Manzo Elementary School on Thursday. The principal, Steven La Turco came out to their car to pick them up and to thank them. The books will be given to kids before Christmas break. 
Readers For Life
Patti Pace delivered 180 books today to from SACC to Drachman Montessori Magnet school. Their librarian, Josie, will get them out to all the 2nd and 3rd graders!
School Supply Delivery
Jan Pitts and Patti Pace: Safely packing supplies safely into ziplock bags, headed to Drachman, Nash and Pueblo Gardens elementary schools for students.
On July 28th, 2020 we delivered 90 kits to 3 schools, supplies hygienically bagged so they can be handed out to students in need. The plan is to check back after schools have been open for a bit, in case they have additional urgent needs.
A special thank you to Joella Smith. She took on the solo job of purchasing and delivering school supplies to C.E. Rose Elementary School, August 2020!
Readers 4 Life
Today at Keeling Elementary we impacted 110 kids. Thanks to Mike and Mary Rhodes, Tina Hermann, Ayla Patton, Lauryn Lyons, Kat Horing and Patti Pace as Rocky!
School Supply Delivery – San Xavier Mission School
Mary & Mike Rhodes, Mary See & Adella Mason made a school supplies delivery in October to the San Xavier Mission school. Supplies included 2 cases of copy paper, 3 ring notebooks, hi- liters, sharpies, folders, calculators, calendar notepads, etc.
School Supplied – Pueblo Gardens & Nash Elementary
The last of our school supplies were donated to Pueblo Ga
rdens & Nash Elementary schools. Thank you to Jan Pitts, Patti Pace and Mo Ryan for helping with the delivery.
2019 PROJECTS
School Supply Delivery
On May 13th the SACC delivered school supplies to Nash Elementary School and Drachman Montessori School. Each school got approximately 1700 items. We will be collecting school supplies during the summer to hand out before school starts to other schools in need.
Power Pack Program – Marana Unified School District
MUSD rep Cindy and Anna Patton at check presentation
On Monday May 13th, 2019 SACC presented a check to the Marana Unified School District to sponsor one Power Pack. A Power Pack offers ready-to-eat, nutritious snacks to students who are identified as chronically hungry within Marana district schools. Power Packs ensure children have access to food during weekends and school breaks; resulting in fewer stomach aches and greater ability to learn. Our donation provides a weekly Power Pack for an ENTIRE school year! For more information or to participate in this program, please visit https://www.maranausd.org/Page/307 for all the details.
2018 PROJECTS
Meanwhile, in Arizona, teamwork is rewarded with smiles
Teamwork pays dividends when it comes to helping others. The Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers Chapter (SATPC) recently partnered with the South Tucson Cyber Lions Club to host a shoe shopping party for some local students in need. The chapter was able to donate $600, and the services of 23 volunteers, to provide these children with new shoes.
In November 2018, Pioneers showed up in force at a local Payless Shoe Store to play personal shopper to 24 children from a local elementary school. The store even opened early to accommodate all the volunteers, teachers and students who attended.
“Everyone involved had so much fun shopping and, at the end of the day, each child went home with two pairs of shoes and a bag of socks!” noted Cathy Greer, a Pioneer at the event. “Working together with the Lions Club, we accomplished so much more than we could on our own.”
In addition to hosting the shoe party, the chapter also works with the Lions to help provide vision screening to children across Tucson. Just last year, over 22,000 students in 65 schools were the beneficiaries of the strong partnership between the two organizations.
Across the country, these Pioneers (and many other volunteers) were thrilled to be paid only in grateful smiles for making sure all these children found shoes that fit them just right. And, of course, who doesn’t like to shop for shoes?
http://www.pioneersvolunteer.org/Pioneers/Stories/Pioneers_Host_Childrens_Shoe_Parties_in_Style.aspx
Readers for Life – Drachman Montessori
We were at Drachman Montessori yesterday giving books to over 200 children, 2nd and 3rd graders. Rocky had a ball!
Pictured Left to Right:
Back row Linda Acosta, Larry Mingo, Jan Pitts, Bonnie Petee, Mike Rhodes
Front row Mary Rhodes, Mo Ryan, Rocky, Tina Herrmann
Readers for Life – Keeling Elementary School
https://www.facebook.com/KeelingElementary/posts/250360212549447
Thank you messages from Rivera school students for Readers for Life.
Rivera Shoe Party – December 2018
SATPC partnering with South Tucson & Cyber Lions Clubs
Today the So AZ Telecom Pioneers Club partnered with South Tucson & Cyber Lions Clubs to provide new school shoes and socks to 20+ children from Rivera Elementary. Payless shoes opened early to accommodate volunteers and teachers who assisted children in selecting shoes and socks in the correct sizes. As you can see from the video, we all had fun!
South Tucson Lions Club Vision Screening & Shoe Party
Cathy Greer and Richard Stevenson – S Tucson Lions Club – October SATPC Luncheon
Since August of this year, the South Tucson Lions club has vision screened at 50 events and expended more than 500 hours of volunteer service which has produced 11,261 children vision screened and 770 color screened. Pioneers Cathy Greer, Gogi Gasper and Adella Mason have volunteered at some of the events. Lions club will assist any child not able to obtain glasses with assistance. After hearing about a need at the Ocotillo Early Learning Center Library for 20 earphones, they were purchased and delivered. In November the club will have a “shoe party”, where 20 kids are taken to a shoe store for a gift of a pair of shoes and socks. Your Pioneer club will sponsor 20 more children and volunteer assistance for this party. Come join us if you want to go shopping.
Marana Teachers Appreciation brunch
May 2018, Pioneers funded 20 teachers memberships to Treasures 4 Teachers of Tucson
2018 BACKPACKS FOR KIDS!!
This is a new project starting in January 2018. Take a backpack and a list of needed items, fill it and bring it back to the luncheon in February. We are going to try and get groups of backpacks (about 20 to 25 per school) to donate to public elementary schools located in low-income communities. We have contacted two of those schools in TUSD so far, and they are both excited to have us support their students. Many students who need a back pack, have limited or no supplies from home. The beginning of school is not the only time there is a need. The school counselors will distribute the backpacks on an as needed basis. Pick up your empty backpack at the January luncheon, or contact Jan Pitts 403 1299 or Patti Pace 241 6849 to get one.
2018 Readers 4 Life Event – Summit View Elementary
Feb 26, 2018: Today we donated 61 filled backpacks and additional office supplies for the teachers to two elementary schools in our community. We met with the counselor or community liaison at Drachman Montessori Elementary and Pueblo Gardens Elementary. They were so excited to receive the backpacks, as both schools have many low income students and many students who are children of refugees. Our goal was to get completely stocked backpacks to the school to give out on an as needed basis. The beginning of the school year is not the only time there is a need.
We worked with the counselor to develop the list of items for the packs. Many backpacks were taken home by our volunteers in Tucson and filled at the volunteers’ expense. More supplies in bulk were purchased to fill additional packs, and we plan to continue this program throughout the year. We received a grant from the Telecom Pioneers Charitable Foundation to supplement this project. Today we had 11 volunteers on hand to carry in the packs and present them to the schools.
UPDATE: In June we held a backpack stuffing event and completed 78 backpacks. These will be distributed to 3 elementary schools prior to the start of the school year. Contact Jan Pitts for more information:
August 1, 2018: We visited three schools today and handed out 77 backpacks and miscellaneous extra school supplies. We visited Walter Douglas Elementary School, Manzo Elementary and E C Nash School. We also handed our school supplies to Gospel Rescue Mission, Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse and Youth On Their Own.
2018 Readers For Life!
In Tucson, we’re doing the Readers for life projects. Here’s a Reader’s for life event picture of our volunteers when they go to visit the children and give them a book to take home.
Rocky Raccoon is a favorite; however, when Patti is in costume, she can’t see anything so it takes a couple of volunteers to help her to navigate. Rocky also hands out masks so the kids will be like him and bookmark with our information on it.
Larry Mingo, Jan Pitts, Patti Pace as Rocky, Linda Acosta, Mo Ryan
Arizona/New Mexico Pioneers 
You must be logged in to post a comment.