CAAR members once again demonstrated the spirit of service that defines our association. On Thanksgiving morning, eight volunteer teams gathered at the Payson Elks Lodge to deliver meals to residents who were unable to leave their homes for the holiday. In just 25 minutes, CAAR volunteers and the Elks prepared 126 hot meals and sent them out across Rim Country.

This year’s delivery routes were organized more efficiently than ever thanks to excellent coordination by Kate Parks from the CAAR office. Team leads Kelly Giurbino, Leilani Lazano, Claudia Robles, Amity Justice, Connie Welsh, Phil Hopkins, Don Queen, and Phil Hopkins guided volunteers as they delivered meals from Tonto Basin all the way to Pine. As has been the case for more than two decades, volunteers encountered individuals who truly could not get out on their own—reminding us why this tradition matters.