YCSO accepts challenge to take part in food drive

Never one to back down from a challenge — especially when it is for such a good cause — the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the “Arizona Four Corners Food Drive Challenge,” to see which agency can collect the most cans and other nonperishable foods for their respective food banks.

The challenge was issued by Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Jail Commander Capt. Don Bischoff as a way to help communities and to start a friendly competition. The Apache County Sheriff’s Office and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, which are located in the other two of the state’s corners, have also accepted the challenge.

“We want to help as much as possible, and this is a great way for the sheriff’s office to give back to the community,” said YCSO spokesperson Alfonso Zavala. “We have already received some donations so far and hope to see more coming in over the next few months.”

The challenge began back on Tuesday, Oct.16 and runs through Jan. 4, 2019. As such, YCSO is asking each of the communities in the county for help in collecting the most.

“It would be amazing for Yuma County and it’s residents to come out on top,” Zavala added.

Zavala explained that the goal of the food-drive challenge is to keep community food banks well-stocked for the upcoming year, especially since Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.

Also, all the food donated in Yuma County will be shared between the Yuma Community Food Bank and the Crossroads Mission, which will record the weights for the challenge.

Food donations can be dropped off at:

Yuma Community Food Bank: Located at 2404 E. 24th Street, Yuma.

Crossroads Mission: Located at 944 S. Arizona Ave., Yuma.

Yuma County Sheriff’s Office- Main Office: Located at 141 S. 3rd Avenue, Yuma.

Yuma County Sheriff’s Office- Foothills Substation: Located at 13190 S. Frontage Road, Yuma.

Wherever you choose to make a donation, please tell them that you are dropping off the food on behalf of the Yuma County Jail.

The sheriff’s office — which has already collected approximately 200 pairs — is also still asking area residents for their shoes.

Zavala went on to say that YCSO has been participating in a shoe drive through the Arizona Sheriff’s Association (ASA) as well, collecting gently worn, used or new shoes as a fundraiser to raise money to provide training for deputies, detention officers and volunteers.

How the shoe drive, which ends later this month, works is that the ASA will earn funds from the website Funds2Orgs. com based on the total weight of the donated shoes, which will then be given to families in developing nations..

Shoes can be dropped off at the sheriff’s office on 3rd Avenue.