Harvest Compassion Center

THE LEGACY OF

BY DAVID M. BROWN / PHOTOS COURTESY HCC

MITCH SWABACK LIVE S AT

HARVEST COMPASSION CENTERS

PETER VISITED the first Harvest Compassion Center in north Phoenix 12 years ago. He had been living on the street for more than three years. HCC gave him food, clothing and toiletries

and hope.The same year, Libby walked into the store. The single mom was caring for her son, who has seizures and other developmental challenges. “It takes all my energy just to make it through a day of being his full-time care giver,” recalls Libby, who now uses a walker and is losing sight in one eye, among other health problems. She continues her care for her son. Libby remembers: “I was blown away that this new place was so clean, had photos on the walls of actual clients smiling, and everyone was just so nice to me. It wasn’t like other places I had visited before where I had even been yelled at.” She continues her gratitude for HCC: “You all here are part of my refuge. I come here to be encouraged; you show me love and you have never looked down on me for having to come back time and time again,” she adds. “Here I shop freely with you, my friends. You do not give me spoiled food. Most importantly, I feel safe at HCC.” That first North Phoenix store (602.788.2444) — part mini-mart, clothing boutique and food bank –– opened in 2011. Two additional locations are also serving the community, in Maryvale (623.247.0039) and West Phoenix (602.841.7110). “Our guests are from all walks of life and are facing life-altering challenges that they may never overcome,” says Nicolee Thompson, executive director. “Since opening, we’ve provided for families who have lost jobs, lost homes, have had major health crises, gone through

Mitch Swaback and parents Gaye and Bob at his high school graduation.

“MITCH’S PASSION TO ALWAYS HELP OTHERS WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE FOUNDATION BEING STARTED TO HONOR HIS LEGACY.”

-NICOLEE THOMPSON

divorce, deportation, depression and more. There are families with single parents, orphaned children, new widows and immigrants. We have shared stories of brokenness, pandemic chaos, death, and despair — but these families have HCC.” She adds: “Some guests come every 30 days and have become friends whose names we know well; other guests come twice a year only when their budget is really tight. It doesn’t matter when we see our guests; what matters is every time they walk through our doors they are shown the love of the Lord.” The stores are funded by Mitchell Swaback Charities, Inc., which was started October 15, 2004, by Bob and Gaye Swaback and Nicolee; originally a foundation, it is now a 501©3 nonprofit. The charity commemorates the humanitarian legacy of their son, Nicolee’s brother Mitch, who died when he was 23 in a drowning accident August 14, 2004. In Arizona, one in four children contend with food hardships; they are not receiving three meals a day. One in five adults have similar challenges, according to HCCsupplied figures. In 2021, the three locations were busy alleviating these issues, helping 50,000-plus guests. Every 30 days, 1,00o families are assisted by HCC. All products are free. To ensure guests receive what they need, HCC employs four full-timers and four part-timers. In addition, 2,000-plus volunteers work six mornings a week.Fund-raising provides all services; HCC does not accept government funding. FEED1 benefactors, for example, help HCC provide food for a family every month; this costs $28 for a family of four. Thompson also writes private grants, and donors can claim Arizona Charitable Tax Credits. HCC Charities schedules two annual fundraisers. The next is AZ Gives Day, April 5 and 6, managed by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and the Arizona Grantmakers Forum. The goal is to raise $100,000 to provide food, clothing as well as hygiene and baby pro ducts for spring. “Mitch’s passion to always help others was the driving force behind the foundation being started to honor his legacy,” Thompson says. “Our prayer is that we will continue to make an impact in his memory for years to come. With Harvest Compassion Centers, we gladly followed my brother’s lead.”

MITCH Mitch changed people’s lives: those he gave to in his efforts and those he simply gifted with his spirit. “Mitch was always the one talking to strangers, helping others at only a moment’s notice and taking the time to be everyone’s friend because that’s just who he was,” Thompson says.He defined service. He built cabins for his church camp and he helped friends with home projects. He traveled with mission teams to South America; during a trip to Lima, Peru, he served at an orphanage, building new facilities, pushing the children on the swings and giving horseback rides. “These kids were all attracted to his genuine love and compassion,” she explains. “We heard countless stories and testimonies of the lives he touched and how clearly God was working in his life.”Those who had no friends had Mitch. Those who had to depend on someone had Mitch. “His heart was one of a giver: to his friends, to children, to the less fortunate. He never said no to anyone, no matter the situation. He was the first to shed a tear for a hurting friend. Those who had no friends had Mitch, and today those who believed they have no friends find them at HCC.” Mitch was never afraid of a challenge. There was no in-between with Mitch. “As hard as you played, he played harder. His passion and will to win always pushed him to finish first. And could he make an entrance. When he walked into the room, his presence took over. For those he loved, instead of a handshake, Mitch would pick you up from behind by the legs and lift you high into the air, ignoring your pleas to be put down,” she says.Her brother taught about life; others have as well. “Just as I learned the hardships of living on the street from Peter and the stresses of being a caregiver from Libby, today we all continue to learn from our guests about how we can best meet their needs. We do this by making sure we have large-size diapers on hand, more fresh produce and dairy products, a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving, Bibles in their language, an extra backpack for a bus ride home and hugs, prayers and smiles,” she says. “Mitch always brought a smile to your face. I see that smile in everything we do, every day.”

Mitch Swaback plays with an overjoyed child.

For more information, see harvest compassioncenter.org and follow HCC on Instagram, @HarvestCompassion; Facebook, Harvest Compassion Center/Mitchell Swaback Charities Inc.; and Twitter, @HCCFeed1. Be sure to visit azfoothills.com to see who won the 2022 Nonprofit of the Year!