Mike and Rae Ann Morgan at the 2007 annual Harvest for Hope 5K.

courtesy of Dawn Kulesa

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Each day in December, we are writing about a Gift of Tucson. These are people who quietly make our town what it is — volunteers, parents, neighbors, people who commit random acts of kindness. While we received nominations from readers for such people as talk radio host Jon Justice and retired executive Dorothy Finley, our gifts have names few recognize but whose contributions make Tucson a better place to live.

Today's gifts: Rae Ann Morgan, 52, and her husband, Mike, 54, both retired.

Nominator: Their Oro Valley neighbor, Dawn Kulesa.

Why they're special: When Dawn Kulesa was diagnosed with cancer almost two years ago, the Morgans went into action.

"They coordinated neighbors to make meals, assisted in taking me to cancer treatments, checked in on me," Kulesa said.

"The treatment knocked me right out, and there they were organizing six months of feeding us. When I was anemic, they went to several stores to find the foods highest in iron and B-12. When I had a relapse, they did it again. I can't imagine how I could have gotten through this without their endless giving."

She's not the only recipient of their generosity, she said last week.

"They've helped raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They encouraged the neighbors to get involved. And they give to the local food bank. Just this week they donated 35 turkeys to the Catalina Food Bank.

"That's the kind of people they are. They get involved and give to others. They are angels."

The Morgans are humble people, reluctant to talk about what they do.

"We do whatever it takes," said Rae Ann. "There are a lot of people out there in need. We are fortunate that we have the time right now so that we can help."

Asked how others might follow in their footsteps, Mike had a ready answer.

"There are hungry people, there are ill people; people have different needs," he said. "When you find those needs, and you are able to do something about them, just do it. Make it happen."

And then he wanted to add something.

Kulesa is the remarkable one, he said last week.

"Dawn was the driving force behind the Harvest for Hope (a 5K walk/run to benefit the Catalina Community Services Food Bank). She is a cancer patient, and yet over the last few days she has organized bags of food for needy people through the food bank. And yesterday we accompanied her as she brought 540 pounds of turkey to the food bank." (Of course, that includes the 35 turkeys from the Morgans.)

"She's one of those people, that, regardless of circumstances, she's reaching out to others," he added.

Rae Ann agreed.

"Dawn's remarkable," she said. "What we've done to help her is trivial compared to what she's done."

Gifts of Tucson

Look on these pages daily this month — we'll have a gift for every day of December