Southern Arizona Humanitarian Aid Resource Alliance joins El Tour to help make a difference in Cochise County

Rick Hackney is hoping El Tour cyclists will be generous with their garments and their canned goods. Historically, they have been, leaving unwanted or early-morning coats and jackets at the starting line as they get ready for the big ride at 7 a.m.

And while you’re visiting to pick up you packets for ride day, bring some non-perishable items – canned goods are great – and deposit them into the Southern Arizona Humanitarian Aid Resource Alliance boxes. They’ll appreciate it. Every bit counts.

You see, Hackney is the CEO of the Southern Arizona Humanitarian Aid Resource Alliance (SAHARA) out of Huachuca City in Cochise County.

They pick up the unwanted clothing items and, later, are given many of the fruits and food not used at El Tour.

They’ll have some boxes around the TCC for clothing donations and jars for money donations.

They turn around and take it to Cochise County to help the people in need down there.

They’ll be part of El Tour for the first time.

“It’s God’s blessing to let me do this,” Rick said.

They impact 100s of families a year, he said.

S.A.H.A.R.A was founded  Hackney & Jredia Newton, residents in the Cochise county community since the early 1980s. They have the heart and passion to serve their community & members and have been seen doing the same across many other cities and states during desperate times of need.

They are a food pantry and thrift store.

“The things we sell in the thrift story helps put food in the pantry,” Hackney said. “We’re feeding about 100 families twice a month.”

They’ve been doing this eight years.

“Our mission is to get people what they need,” he said.

Good people, indeed.

The purposes for which this nonprofit is organized are:

Distributing humanitarian aid & supplies to individuals in need at no charge – from first responders & firefighters to the citizens within the community that find themselves in a position of needing a hand.

They often help those whose houses have burned down, “donating furniture and whatever they need,” Hackney said.

They also work with the Warrior Healing Center, an organization that has 52 veteran organizations.

“Anytime they put a veteran in a house, we stock the house with food and clothing or whatever they need,” he said.

They also ally with other humanitarian agencies to do the best job we can to help ALL those in need.

It is through YOUR donations that make it possible to complete the mission each time the call comes in, or there is a knock on the door.

To help SAHARA with its efforts, click SAHARA.