As I walked into the bustling community room at the Granite Reef Senior Center, the energy was contagious. A group fitness class had just wrapped up, and the space buzzed with conversation and laughter. But it was the delicious aroma drifting from the kitchen that pulled me in — the unmistakable scent of lunch being prepared for dozens of hungry seniors in TCAA’s Senior Lunch Program.
Inside, staff and volunteers were working together like a well-oiled machine, getting ready to serve the day’s meal. That’s where I met Veronica. She was setting up the drink station, arranging cups and making sure everything was ready for the lunchtime rush.
When I asked her what she enjoys most about her work, she didn’t have to think long.
“Setting up the drink station, serving food, and greeting people,” she said proudly.
Veronica has been part of our Senior Center Lunch Program for five years. She’s employed through Pathway to Work, an organization whose mission is to prepare adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities for meaningful, integrated employment. Through structured, goal-based programming and strong community partnerships, Pathway to Work helps their clients build skills, gain confidence, and thrive in workplaces like ours.
“Each of our clients comes to work with a job coach,” explains Suzy, Director of Employment Services for Pathway to Work. “They earn Arizona’s minimum wage and become part of the team they’re placed with.”
At TCAA, Pathway to Work clients are truly woven into our mission. They support the Escalante Community Garden, help deliver meals through Meals on Wheels, and work alongside our staff at senior lunch programs here at Granite Reef and at the Escalante Community Center. Together, they contribute nearly 200 hours of work every month — hours that make a real difference for the people we serve.
When I asked Roy, our Nutrition Services Manager, about the future of this partnership as we prepare to move into our new building, he didn’t hesitate.
“I want to bring Veronica on as TCAA staff,” he said.
It wouldn’t be the first time — several Pathway to Work graduates have gone on to become part of the TCAA team. Veronica’s dedication, warmth, and joy in serving others are exactly the qualities that make our programs so impactful.
Stories like Veronica’s remind us that nourishing our community isn’t just about the meals we serve — it’s about creating opportunities, building inclusion, and celebrating the unique strengths each person brings.
