>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, A DEBATE ON PROPOSITION 309 CHALLENGE 309 WHICH WILL REQUIRE VOTER I.D.

AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND TRIBAL LEADERS OVER VOTER WALLS AND THAT'S AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Announcer: ARIZONA MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE PECAS FAMILY FOUNDATION.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACCUSED 47 PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA STEALING AID TO FEED NEEDY CHILDREN AND INDICTMENTS SAID IT TOOK MILLIONS A DOLLARS A WEEK FROM FEDERAL ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS FOR MEALS THAT WERE NEVER SERVED TO CHILDREN THAT JUSTICE OFFICIALS SAY NEVER EXISTED.

THE INDICTMENTS SAY IT WAS USED TO BUY LUXURY CARS AND HOMES AND APPEARS TO BE THE LARGEST THEFT FROM A RELIEF PROGRAM.

>>> A STUDY SHOWS DRUG OVERDOSES REACHING RECORD HIGHS IN 2021 AND FOUND THAT AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE PEOPLE HAD THE HIGHEST RATE FROM 15 TO 34 AND BLACK MEN AGED 35 TO 64 HAD THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATES FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

RESEARCHERS SAY THE FINDINGS UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO EXPAND PREVENTION TO SPECIFIC POPULATIONS.

>> ECONOMIC NEWS, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES HIT THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND FORD WON'T BE ABLE TO BUILD UP TO 45 PICK-UPS AND S.U.V.S BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED FOR COMPLETION.

FORD SAYS THE SHORTAGES AND RISING PRICES WILL COST AN EXTRA ONE BILLION DOLLARS THIS QUARTER.

THE AUTOMAKER SAYS IT EXPECTS TO HIT A FULL YEAR TARGET.

>>> PROPOSITION 309 TO REQUIRE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION FOR ALL IN-PERSON VOTERS AND MAIL-IN PLOTS REQUIRING THE BIRTHDATE AND THE LAST FOUR OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND JOINING US NOW TO DEBATE PROPERTY 309 THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE AGAINST THE BALLOT.

KATIE, THE IDEA OF PHOTO I.D.ES WHY IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?

>> BACK THEN, THERE WERE THREE AND TWO ARE PHOTO I.D.

AND A THIRD VERSION AND THIS JUST SAYS, LOOK, IF YOU'RE SHOWING UP IN-PERSON, WE NEED TO MATCH THE FACE TO THE PHOTO AND IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD ONE, DON'T HAVE ONE, LIKE A DRIVERS LICENSE, WE'LL PROVIDE ONE FOR FREE?

>> PENNY, THE PHOTO I.D., THE DROP-OFF FOR IN-PERSON VOTING AND WHY IS THIS NOT A GOOD IDEA?

>> THANK YOU, TED, FOR INVITING US AND ACTUALLY, IT'S A GOOD DAY BECAUSE IT'S NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY AND GREAT CONVERSATION ON THIS DAY AND THE PHOTO I.D.

IS NOT THE ISSUE, OK?

WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS -- WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS APP IS THAT CURRENTLY, IF YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO I.D.

AND DOESN'T HAVE AN ADDRESS, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WHEN YOU'RE AT THE POLL, YOU WANT TO, AS YOU SAID, WHO YOU ARE AND ARE YOU PERSON ELIGIBLE AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

THE WHERE DO YOU LIVE IS SO THAT YOU GET THE CORRECT BALLOT.

WHAT THIS ACT WILL DO IS, IT ALLOWS FOR MILITARY AND PASSPORTS WHICH DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS, BUT IT DELIBERATELY EXCLUDES TRIBAL I.D.ES AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.

>> I WANT YOU TO DO SO, BUT FIRST RESPOND TO WHAT WAS SAID.

>> TRIBAL I.D., AS LONG THERE'S A PHOTO, IT'S OK. WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, WHICH HAS YOUR PHOTO AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THAT'S ALL YOU WOULD NEED IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER KIND OF PHOTO I.D., SUCH AS PASSPORT, ET CETERA, THEN YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL PIECE OF DOCUMENTATION WITH YOUR ADDRESS, BUT IN EITHER CASE, IT WOULD REQUIRE A PHOTO I.D.

>> SO JUST SOME DATA ON THE TRIBAL I.D., OK.

MANY OF THE TRIBES -- HERE ARE ALL OF THE TRIBES, HAVASU AND THE SAN JUAN SOUTHERN DO NOT AND THE TRIBAL LAW SAYS THEY CAN USE IT, MEANING THEY DON'T HAVE A PHOTO I.D.

AND OFTEN, THEY DON'T ALSO HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC ADDRESS THE WAY WE RECOGNIZE IT.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I AGREE WITH YOU THAT CURRENTLY, AS A POLL WORKER, YOU DO GET TO USE A PHOTO I.D., LEGITIMATE PHOTO I.D., THE ONES YOU MENTIONED AND ACTUALLY, IN LOOKING AT THE LAW THIS MORNING, THAT THEY WISH TO CHANGE, THE TRIBAL I.D.ES I.D.

IS EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PHOTO IN THEM.

SO THEY'VE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE OTHER MEANS OF, YOU KNOW, VERIFYING THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE.

>> ARE WE TALKING SECONDARY VERIFICATION PROCESSES AND THERE SOMES TO BE SOME CONFUSION?

>> CURRENTLY, THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO SHOW I.D., YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, PHOTO I.D., ADDRESS, OR NON-PHOTO I.D.

AND IT IS THAT THIRD CATEGORY THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ANYMORE AND ONE OF THE FIRST TWO.

WE DON'T CHANGE THE FIRST TWO AT ALL.

THEY REMAIN THE CASE AND JUST WE'RE SAYING IN ALL CASES, IT HAS TO BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A PHOTO I.D.

>> TO PENNY'S POINT, DOES THAT EXCLUDE PEOPLE?

>> IT DOES NOT.

AND TO MAKE THE POINT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PHOTO I.D.

-- AND THIS IS A FRACTION, LESS THAN 1% OF PEOPLE AND IF THEY DON'T, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU ONE FOR FREE IF IT'S FOR VOTING PURPOSES AND THE MVP, NO, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ONE.

>> IT'S TO KEEP FRAUD AND ABUSES IN CHECK AND DOES THIS NOT HELP THAT?

>> SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW, THIS IS EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PROOF OR SHOW THE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF CHEATING THAT'S GOING ON, SO TO SPEAK.

PEOPLE, WHEN THEY SHOW UP, THAT THEY'RE BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE AND DON'T HAVE THE PROPER FORMS OF I.D.

>> IS IT NOT HARD TO CHEAT RIGHT NOW?

IS THERE CHEATING GOING ON?

AGAIN, WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE.

WHETHER FOLKS THINK THERE IS OR ISN'T, THERE IS ONE AND YOU WILL HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WILL SAY, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER SHOWING UP TO VOTE?

THE FIX IS IN.

I'VE GOT BE A NUMBER WHO HAVE DEREGISTERED AND DOESN'T LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN PAST ELECTIONS.

IT'S UNDENIABLE, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE LOST FAITH AND A PRACTICAL WAY TO INSTILL FAITH IN THE SYSTEM.

IMPROVE DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT PROCESS NOW, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING ON THE FIRST TWO WAYS YOU CAN SHOW I.D.

IN ALL CASES, PHOTO I.D.

MUST BE REQUIRED.

>> BACK TO CONFIDENCE, THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE RIGHT NOW IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR NORM, IS THIS GOING TO CHANGE THAT?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT MAIL-IN LOTS.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE 90% OF FOLKS ARE VOTING THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE I.D., YOU WILL SEE SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

>> IS THAT VOTER SUPPRESSION IF YOU DISMISS CONCERNS AND PEOPLE SAY, I DON'T TRUST IT, I'M NOT VOTING?

IS THAT A WAY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

>> WHEN SENATOR MESSNER SAYS THAT WILL BUILD BACK THE CONFIDENCE.

HOW DOES THAT BUILD BACK THE CONFIDENCE.

WHETHER YOU AGREE THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OR SMALL NUMBER FROM PARTICIPATING IN VOTING?

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE BEING SUDDENLY BOLSTERED BY EXCLUDING PEOPLE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD AGREE WITH.

>> OK, LET LET'S GET TO THE MAIL-IN BIRTHDATE?

WHY NOT A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND MAKING SURE THERE'S A SIGNATURE TO, AGAIN, GIVE PEOPLE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT SECURITY IS IN ORDER?

>> SO IF I MAY, YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVEN YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.

WHEN YOU REGISTER, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO VOTE UNTIL ALL OF THE PROOF OF DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BEFORE YOU CAN VOTE.

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GO TO VOTE, AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS CONNECTION, IS THAT IN-PERSON VOTING, YOU COME TO THE BALLOT, YOU SHOW US WHO YOU ARE, OK, REGARD OF THE FACT THAT WE DON'T AGREE THAT THE LISTS ARE THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE IT, SIR.

BUT THERE IS A WAY FOR YOU TO SHOW WHO WHO ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE.

A MAIL-IN BALLOT TO EVEN RECEIVE A MAIL-IN PLOT, YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BALLOT IN-PERSON AND YOU GO AND CAST THE BALLOT, YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT AGAIN.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE MAIL BALLOT, WHICH IS THE SAME PROCESS, YOU RECEIVE THE BALLOT, NOW YOU HAVE TO GO BEYOND THE SIGNATURE TO GET THESE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION.

I MAY POINT OUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

DO YOU FORGET HOW TO SIGN?

NO.

CAN YOU TRANSPORT THE NUMBER OFF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE OR SOMETHING?

SO YOU REALLY OPENED UP THE DOOR TO THROW OUT BALLOTS FOR A SIMPLE MISTAKE.

>> DUPLICATIVE HERE?

IS THIS NECESSARY CONSIDERING ALL OF THE SAFEGUARDS AND A, THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM UNTIL SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM.

NOW CONFIDENCE IS GONE AND WE'RE TAKING THESE EXTRA STEPS.

IS THIS NECESSARY?

>> A CHANGEUP OF THINGS.

COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK IT'S A MISUNDERSTAND THAT TRUST IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM ERODED IN THE EYES OF SOME.

BEFORE 2020, YOU WERE SEEING CONCERNS AS MAIL-IN BALLOTS THE WAY PEOPLE VOTED AND TAKING DAYS OR WEEKS TO COUNT THEM AND ON ELECTION DAY, THERE WAS ONE OUTCOME AND THE VOTES WERE COUNTED, THAT OUTCOME CHANGED.

>> THERE WERE EXPLANATION FOR THOSE THINGS.

>> ONE WOULD SAY THE LATE FOLKS VOTED THAN THE EARLY FOLKS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IN HUMAN NATURE, THERE ISN'T THE CLOSURE AND I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST.

SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS A REASONABLE PUBLIC POLICY?

>> IN ANY CASE IN EVERY DAY LIFE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE BANK AND THEY ASK FOR I.D.

OR YOU CALL THEM AND THEY'RE JUST GOING BASED ON YOUR VOICE, THEY ASK FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

WHEN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE, THESE ARE THE EXACT THINGS THEY ASK FOR WHICH IS WHY THEY USE THEM TO CROSS-REFERENCE ON FILE.

SO THESE ARE NOT ACTUALLY KNEW THINGS.

NEW THINGS.

>> THE SOCIAL SECURITY AND DRIVER'S LICENSE, IS IT GOOD TO INCLUDE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION WITH ONE'S VOTING REFERENCE PREFERENCES.

>> THIS ISN'T REQUIRING THAT AFFIDAVIT, THIS EXISTS.

THIS IS ADDING INFORMATION AND THE WHAT THEY MATCH THE ENVELOPE OR THE BALLOT THAT ARRIVES WITH THE VOTER FILE.

THEY THEN REMOVE THE BALLOT AND THEY'RE NOT COMPARING ANYTHING AT THAT POINT, BUT IT'S FOR VERIFICATION.

>> IF SOMEONE MAKES IT BACKWARD AND SIGNATURES ARE MATCHED UP, BUT IF SOME OF THIS DOESN'T MATCH OR SMUDGED OR CLEAR, IS THAT VOTER SUPPRESSION?

>> NOW IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM, YOU CAN HAVE THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS POP UP AND THE SIGNATURE DOESN'T MATCH AND IN ANY SITUATION THAT'S NOT INVOLVING GOING TO THE POLLS.

IN THIS CASE, VOTING BY MAIL.

LET'S NOT FORGET, THAT'S A CONVENIENCE AND VOTINGMY MAIL IS NOTVOTING BY MAIL.WE'VE EXTEND ED THIS EXTENDED THAT.

SOMEONE MAY NOT EXTEND THAT AND THE ELECTION OFFICIALS WILL REACH OUT TO THE VOTER TO CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> MINOR MISS MISTAKES, THERE WOULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE MISTAKES OR MATCH IT UP.

>> THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO VERIFY THREE PIECES OF INFORMATION IS MUCH MORE THAN VERIFIES THE INFORMATION.

SECOND IS, IF, INDEED, THERE WAS A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE MAIL SYSTEM, THE COUNTY RECORDERS ARE REPORTING THERE IS AN 80% AND UPTICK FOR MAIL BALLOTS.

I'M NOT READY TO ACCEPT THIS WILL CHANGE THE CONFIDENCE.

SO ONE, THREE MORE PIECES WILL TAKE LONGER AND TWO, THERE'S A WHOLE CONCERN ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT.

WHY WOULD YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT INFORMATION.

YOU ALREADY HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE -- YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A BALLOT AND WHY SHOULD YOU NOW AGAIN HAVE TO SHOW ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO CAST YOUR BALLOT?

>> LAST POINT ON THIS.

AGAIN, THE DUPLICATIVE NATURE AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

>> I UNDERSTAND SOME FOLKS SAYING IT'S NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY THINK THE SYSTEM WORKS NECESSARY.

80% OR 90% OR VOTING WITHOUT SHOWING I.D.

I.D.

AND WITHOUT THIS, THERE WOULD BE NO I.D.

>> THERE IS A PAIR AND HONEST ELECTION.

GOT A POINT THERE?

>> NOPE.

IT TAKES AWAY THE PRIVACY.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIVACY A VOTER HAS IN CASTING THEIR VOTE.

>> GOOD CONVERSATION AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS SINGLE PARENTS WHO ARE COPING WITH CANCER.

>> THE SINGLETONS IS A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO SINGLE PARENTS GOING THROUGH CANCER.

THE ORGANIZATION RECENTLY RECEIVED TWO GRANTS THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE SINGLETON'S PROJECTS.

WE WELCOME JODIE BOYD, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SINGLETONS AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT AND IS THAT WHAT THAT IS?

>> YES.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THIS GOT STARTED AND THE NAME.

>> THE SINGLETONS WAS STARTED IN 2006 AFTER THE LOSS OF A CHILDHOOD FRIEND BY THE NAME OF MICHELLE SINGLETON.

SHE WAS 32 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE PASSED, 30 DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AND A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF WATCHING HER CANCER JOURNEY AND ALSO AS A MOTHER MYSELF, WATCHING AND GOING, HOW IS SHE GOING TO DO ALL OF THIS?

THE BILLS NEED TO BE PAID AND DINNER NEEDS TO BE MADE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON.

LIFE DOESN'T STOP WITH THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE IT.

YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN HELP AND THERE ISN'T A LOT OF SUPPORT AND SO, THAT'S WHERE WE STEP IN.

>> ORIGINALLY, HOW DID YOU STEP IN AND HOW HAS THAT GROWN OVER THE YEARS?

>> VERY ORGANIC AND WE WOULD DO THINGS HELP PAY A COPAY WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO THE DOCTOR OR MAKE SURE THERE WAS PIZZA WHEN SHE GOT HOME FOR THEKIES THE KIDS TO EAT.

OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE GROWN THIS INTO AN ORGANIZATION WHERE WE RESTOCKED THE HOME WITH SEMIS.

EVERYBODY NEEDS LAUNDRY DETERRENT AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS NO MATTER NEWBORN TO 18, YOU NEED TO WASH THEIR KIDS OFTEN AND YOU NEED LAWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT AND FAMILY-STYLE DINNERS AND EATING BETTER THAN A BOX OF MACARONI AND CHEESE AND SPENDING TIME AS A FAMILY.

>> THE FAMILY TIME DINNER SOUNDS INTERESTING BECAUSE THAT ENCOURAGES FAMILY TIME IN A DIFFICULT TIME.

>> CANCER IS A SCARRY EXAMINATION AND THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, IT'S SCARRY TO CHILDREN AND LET'S BE HONEST, FOR GROWN-UPS, OH, YEAH, WE'VE GOT THIS.

IT'S SCARRY AND UNKNOWN.

AND BEING ABLE TO ENCOURAGE OUR.

FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME AS A FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OUTCOME IS OR HOW LONG THIS ILLNESS LASTS, THEY NEED TO HAVE FUN AND SMILES AND HAPPY TIMES.

>> AND THEY NEED HELP AS FAR AS BUDGET CONCERNS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND RELIEVING THE FAMILY BUDGET HELPS TO RELIEVE ANXIETY, TOO.

AND BEING ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH THE GAS CARD TO GET TO AND FROM THEIR TREATMENTS, THEY CAN'T MISS AN APPOINTMENT AND WITH GAS PRICES THE WHAT THEY ARE, SOME FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO TO BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPLEMENT TO TAKE AWAY A LITTLE BIT OF THE BURDENS.

>> TALK TO ME NOW ABOUT THE TWO GRANTS FROM THE ARIZONA NETWORK AND THEY WERE CHANNELED THROUGH THE ARIZONA NETWORK FUNDS?

>> YES.

WE'RE IS EXCITED TO BE BUILDING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARIZONA FOOD BANK NETWORK.

SO WHAT THEY'VE ALLOWED US TO DO WAS TO GET ALL NEW KITCHEN EQUIPMENT.

SO FREEZERS AND STORAGE SPACE.

WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE A VAN BECAUSE WE GO TO ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK TO SUPPLEMENT WITH SOME OF OUR FOOD AND WE NOW AS OF JANUARY 1 TO NOW, 6 FAMILIES IN TUCSON.

>> OH MY!

>> THAT'S A BRAND NEW END ENDEAVOR.

>> I SAW A GRANT ON HYDROPONIC GARDENS.

>> EVERYBODY KNOWS EATING HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT AND THE IDEA OF GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING.

WE WANT TO SHOW OUR FAMILIES HOW TO GROW FOOD IN SMALL SPACES LIKE ON A PATIO OF AN APARTMENT, VERTICALLY, HYDROPONICALLY.

THERE ARE WAYS FOR FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY, SEED IS A QUALIFYING PRODUCT THEY CAN PURCHASE.

AND TO IF WE TEACH THEM WHAT TO DO WITH IT, THEY CAN GET EXCITED AND, AGAIN, ANOTHER FAMILY PROJECT FOR THEM TO HAVE FUN WITH AND THE RESULT IS THEY'LL BE EATING BETTER AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE FOOD COMES FROM.

>> THIS INCLUDES INSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OR ONE OR THE OTHER?

>> YES.

IT'S A NEW PROJECT FOR US AND WE'RE STARTING OUT AT OUR FAMILY CENTER.

WE HAVE SOME INDOOR HYDROPONIC GARDENS THAT ARE LIT WITH LED LIGHTS AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING GROWING FROM TOMATOES TO SWISS CHARD AND WE'LL FIRST GROW IT ON SITE TO GIVE OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND THEN OVERTIME, WE TEACH THEM HOW TO DO IT FOR THEMSELVES.

>> THAT SOUNDS FASCINATING.

I SEE INSULATED BAGS AND GLOVES AND CONTAINERS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS HER.

>> ABSOLUTELY, FULL MEAL KITS WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO COME IN.

LAST WEEK, WE HAD A GROUP FROM AETNA AND DESERT FINANCIAL.

THEY PUT THESE KITS TOGETHER AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE HEALTHY AND READY TO EAT.

>> HOW IMPORTANT ARE THOSE VOLUNTEERS?

>> OH, EVERYTHING.

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE -- WE ARE 100% DEPENDENT ON THE GENEROSITY FROM BOTH TIME, MONETARY, BRINGING IN THOSE SUPPLIES.

>> I READ THAT YOU RECENTLY OPENED A FAMILY CENTER CALLED THE HUB.

>> YES.

>> WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, A VERY LONG TIME AGO, I KIND OF DECIDED ALONG WITH OUR INITIAL BOARD THAT WE NEEDED A HOME AWAY FROM HOME AND WE WANTED IT TO LOOK LIKE THAT, A HOME.

SO OUR HUB, IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS OF LOOKING AND IT'S ON 28th 28th STREET AND BELL, AND WE HAD A BIG SETBACK ONCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM THE.. WE BOUGHT IT IN JANUARY OF 2020.

I HAD SOME DELAYS.

BUT WE'RE OPEN AND OPERATIONAL AND WE HAVE A KITCHEN AND A BIG BEAR NECESSITIES ROOM AND IN THE BACK, A BIG FAMILY ROOM.

THIS WEEKEND, WE EVEN HAD A SWEET 16th BIRTHDAY PARTY TO CELEBRATE THE SINGLETONS CELEBRATING 16.

WE HAD A CAKE WALK AND ICE CREAM SUNDAE BAR.

WE LEAVE CANCER AT THE DOOR.

WE FOCUS ON THE FAMILY.

>> THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND THE HUB NOW, IS IT A PLACE TO DO GO OR A PLACE TO STAY IN.

>> IT'S?

>> A PLACE TO GO.

>> ANY PLACES TO STAY.

>> THAT IS A CONVERSATION AND THE WHEELS ARE TURNING AND A CONVERSATION OVER TIME AND WITH THE COST OF LIVING GOING UP, AND OUR FAMILIES KIND OF ARE IN POSITIONS ALREADY WHERE THEY CAN'T REALLY DOWNSIZE.

AND YET, THEY'RE UNABLE TO WORK.

OVER 70% ARE NOT ABLE TO WORK.

SO THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP AND THE CHANCES OF SEEING THE FAMILIES DISPLACED, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> LAST QUESTION, WHEN YOU STARTED THIS, YOU SAID IT GREW ORGANICALLY AND WITH YOUR FRIEND AND EVERYTHING, COULD YOU HAVE ENVISIONED THIS IN 16 YEARS?

>> NEVER, BUT I'M SO VERY GRATEFUL.

WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY STARTING TO RALLY AND SUPPORT US AND THAT WE WERE GETTING REFERRALS OF MORE AND MORE FAMILIES, I REALIZED THAT THIS COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUALS, THEY NEEDED US VERY MUCH.

>> WELL, EXCELLENT WORK AND CONTINUED SUCCESS AND ON THE SUCCESS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED.

JODIE BOYD WITH THE SINGLETONS AND THANK YOU.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE, THE NEXT DEBATE IS TOMORROW AS WE HEAR FROM CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 AND THAT'S WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 5:00 P.M. AND 11:30 P.M. ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

THAT IT IS FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING SLAM.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, CRONKITE NEWS, THE COACH INSPIRING KIDS BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.