A Season Of Giving Back To Our Community
Imagine this:
Your child says "Hey mom, I'm so looking forward to Christmas. I have my list all ready for what I'm going to give this year!!" Oh, you say, that is not the way it works at your house? You mean the kids are giving you the list of what they want to get, instead of a list of what they plan to give? In our super merchandized and over advertised society it is hard not to get swept up in the 'get mode'.
Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon, in their book, The Power of Giving, point out that "Every day, in many ways, you have the ability to develop a culture of giving in your home, one that can be a lifelong gift to your children." They also quote Paul Loeb who writes "children who teach younger children, write letters to people in the hospital, or make toys for poor kids are much more open to helping people in need when they grow up than those who don't share such experiences. It's no surprise. Children who are taught to care become caring adults. We believe adults must make a special commitment to teach children compassion through stories, actions, and mentoring."
Even families who are challenged financially can teach their children the joy of giving. A special friend of our family is a single mom with 5 kids under the age of fourteen. This family has regularly been the recipient of Christmas giving programs, but they also routinely head to the park with a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter to feed the homeless in their neighborhood. I know these kids well, and they show promising signs of becoming others-centered!
There are many local organizations that need our help this holiday season. While this list (below) only represents a portion of the organizations that serve our commuinity, we hope that you will find a place to fill a need. Once you have seen the look of joy on the face of someone who would not be getting a gift (or a meal) except for your family choosing to give, you and your kids will be "hooked" for life!
Agency Name |
Type of Gifts |
Target Recipients |
Drop Off Site |
Agency Contact |
Aviva Children's Services |
Money or toys, as well as volunteers to help wrap and/or deliver gifts to 1,800 kids |
Families and children in Child Protective Services care |
1735 E. Ft Lowell Suite #4 |
Bonnie Demorotski 327-6779 ex 13 bonnie.demorotski@ avivatucson.org |
AZ Baptist Children’s Services |
Adopt/foster care kids |
Foster Care Families |
1825 N. Alvernon |
Kathy or Ashley 745-7541 |
Casa de los Niños Crisis Shelter |
Toys and Clothes for ages |
Casa de los Niños residents |
1101 N 4th Ave |
Dan Gregory 624-5600 www.casadelosninos.org/ |
Chicanos por la Causa |
Toys, money, candy, peanuts, pizza, soda, help to staff booths and serve guests |
5,000 children ages 6 mo. to 16 yrs. |
El Pueblo Neighborhood Center 101 W. Irvington Rd Dec. 1st for supplies Dec, 8th to serve |
Adela 882-0018 |
Child & Family Resources |
Call for information on individual families |
Families who cannot afford to buy holiday gifts |
2800 E. Broadway |
Colleen Bagnall - Comm. Director, 321-3394 |
Christian Family Care Agency |
Games and toys for two or more players; Walmart gift cards |
Foster and Adoption Families |
CFCA 6063 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712 Dec. 7th |
Sarah Barker 296-8255, sbarker@cfcare.org |
Davis-Monthan Air Base Chapel |
Toys and clothes for children and adults |
Families of Airmen |
Contact the Base Chapel |
Chapel 228-5411 |
GAP Ministries Group Homes |
Unwrapped shoes, pajamas, toys electronics games or music, gift cards for restaurants, activities, or retail stores |
100 children ages 1 -18 yrs. In CPS care |
Presence Furniture Store |
Julie Wagner/Pam Ayers 877-8077 |
Gospel Rescue Mission |
3,000 toys for ages 0 -14 yrs. No violent toys unwrapped |
Intercity kids |
338 W. 28th Street & |
Suzanne Williams 740-1501 x209 |
Gospel Rescue Mission |
Holiday meal supplies such as coffee, b. sugar, turkeys, dressing, pies etc.Help preparing and serving food |
Families attending the holiday meals |
Meals served Nov. 21st and |
Suzanne Williams 740-1501 x209 |
Heartland Hospice Services |
Gift Cards: Blockbusters, Groceries, Restaurants or Stamps, Christmas Cards, Boxes of Candy and Cookies, Nuts and most traditional gifts |
Patients and families of Hospice patients |
2980 N Campbell Ave |
Nancy Curran 520-325-2790 4604officestaff10@hcr-manorcare.com |
Luz Social Services |
Frozen turkeys or holiday type canned goods and/or toys, candy and nuts and help with prep and serving |
Homeless, and low income adults and families |
El Pueblo Neighborhood Center 101 W. Irvington
Rd |
Nastia 294-7620 |
MentorKids USA. |
Toys, clothes, athletic equip., board games & puzzles |
Single parent or no parent kids |
633 N. 2nd. Ave. or call for pick up. Dec. 20th |
Don McNeill 297-0702 ext. 105 |
Our Family Services Holiday Gift Tree |
new and unwrapped toys, books, personal-care items, arts & crafts kits or clothing for children from newborns to 18-year-olds, or drugstore or supermarket gift cards for seniors. |
Children,, young mothers and senior citizen |
3830 E. Bellevue St. |
Janeen Delgado 323-1708 ext. 105 |
Pima County Jail Ministry |
Bikes, helmets, toys |
Children of inmates and officers |
Pima County Jail |
Chaplain Steve Martinez - 351-8171 |
Primavera Foundation |
Gift bags for men or women |
Homeless |
601 S Stone Ave |
Jenny 623-5111 |
Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Program |
Each child gets a clothing and a fun gift valued between $20 and $30 each or gift cards from Walmart |
Serving 17,000 plus sons and daughters of Incarcerated parents in Arizona |
Contact Dee Ervasti for child assignment and drop off location |
Dee Ervasti 1-888-292-9944
or |
Salvation Army |
Non-violent toys , frozen turkeys and frozen pre-cooked pies |
Families and at risk kids 0 to 16 yrs. |
1001 N. Richey Blvd. |
Tamara 795-9671 |
Salvation Army |
Adopt a family program |
At risk families |
See information online at: |
Tamara 795-9671 |
Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation & the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network |
Grocery and Target Gift Cards or gifts from Target. (First name: SAAF, Last name: TIHAN) |
Families affected by HIV/AIDS |
375 S. Euclid Avenue (Euclid just south
of Broadway Blvd.) |
Melissa at 628-7223 or e-mail: mfriesenborg@saaf.org |
Teen Challenge of Arizona |
Target and Walmart gift cards, devotional books, Christian CD’s, toiletries |
Girls ages 12 to 17 yrs. Men 18+ women and children 0 to 7 yrs. |
Corp. office at 8464 N. Oracle Rd. or Men’s center at 2637 N. Oracle Rd. |
Ann 292-2273 ext 100 |
The Giving Tree Outreach Program |
Unwrapped toys and clothes (in gift bags) for 0 – 18 yr. olds and men’s & women’s clothing and personal supplies. |
Children, parents and grandparents served by the agency |
4888 E. Broadway or |
Libby Wright – 320-5437 or |
Toys for Tots |
Non violent toys for children |
Serves local agencies that provide toys to children for the holidays |
Check web site for details |
|
Youth Haven Ranch for deserving boys & girls ages 7 - 13 |
Toys for ages 7- 13, also underwear, sock & new tennis shoes See flyer online at: www.youthhaven.org/ information.asp?topicid=36 |
Disadvantaged children who are campers at YHR (all children attend free of charge) |
Visit: www.myflr.org/for drop off sites and deadline dates |
Contact Family Life Radio |
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