Mesa business to hold musical luncheon to help kids

PHOENIX — As state lawmakers prepare for Tuesday’s special session to overhaul the department formerly known as Child Protective Services, we found a Valley business trying to help Arizona’s vulnerable families.

“We’ve been in Mesa for over 40 years now and I grew up in Mesa as well,” said Jack Barz, co-owner of Organ Stop Pizza. “And every summer we give back a little to some of the local folks in the area that could really use our help and acknowledgement”.

On Saturday, Organ Stop will hold a Musical Hero Luncheon and give the public to learn about the Child Crisis Center in Mesa. Since opening in 1981, the center has provided safe shelter to more than 13,000 children, most of them homeless or coming from domestic violence situations.

“They also have a tremendous family resource center and a lot of people don’t know that they can actually go and get free parenting classes and help on how to raise their kids if they’re having difficulties,” said Barz.

For $5 and a gift for a child up to age 11, Organ Stop will provide all the salad, pizza and soda you want, plus live organ music. Gifts can be bottles, sippy cups, diapers, DVDs, toys, blankets and clothes. Or you can skip the gift and buy a $10 ticket with $5 going to the Child Crisis Center. For more information, go to organstoppizza.com