Woman 'belled' for making lunch bags for homeless around holidays

What: Ben’s Bells promote kindness and community involvement. Each week a person who makes Tucson better is “belled.”

Last week’s recipient: Julie Garrettson.

Nominated by: William Clifford.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Why: Every year around Christmas, Garrettson makes and assembles bag lunches for homeless people throughout the Tucson community. These lunches include sandwiches, home-baked cookies and banana breads, tissues, toothpaste and other items. Garrettson began assembling these bags many years ago, quietly and on her own, Clifford wrote in his nomination letter. Now, she and her friends spend days cooking and packaging. Then on or around Christmas each year, she packs her car and delivers the lunch bags to homeless spots — shelters, parks and underpasses. “Julie truly is an exemplar of kindness and it is a joy to know her,” Clifford wrote.

More info and to nominate someone: Go to bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to bensbells.org or call 622-1379 for more information.