With Black Friday just days away, two local organizations are hoping to benefit from any extra bargains scored by shoppers now and throughout the biggest shopping weekend of the year in an effort to help the less fortunate.
First in line is the Pima Community College Community Organization and Development Class, which is collecting donations of gift cards to grocery stores and retailers, nonperishable food items, body lotions and toiletries, blankets and throws, and stocking stuffers to gift to seniors in need at “Dashing Through the Snow†from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Fred Archer Center, 1665 S. La Cholla Blvd.
“There are so many in the elderly community who came from back East or other parts of the country and are alone on the holidays. Many of them are lower income or have limited resources, and we want to keep them involved in the community. This is also an opportunity for us to do outreach and let them know there are resources out there for them,†said Sarah Muñoz, 29, a social-services student.
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The holiday-themed event, which is free to seniors and one guest each, will feature food and beverages, games, music, entertainment, raffles and a resource fair highlighting businesses and social-service agencies such as the Pima Council on Aging, the Community Food Bank, Cigna and Hand In Hand Physical Therapy.
Muñoz said no donation is too small and that volunteers are needed to assist with the event.
“We are looking for donations for raffle prizes, and if we get extra food donations we will hand out whatever we don’t serve. Anything will help,†she said.
Holiday gift drive
Casa de los Niños also has an extensive wish list for children and families in need; it will kick off its holiday gift drive this weekend with Holiday Wish Trees throughout the community and a Pack-the-Covered Wagon at Trail Dust Town.
“The majority of children and families we work with are living in poverty, so we are looking for donations of new clothes, shoes and toiletries to help meet some of the immediate needs that arise for families,†said Dan Gregory, community relations coordinator of Casa de los Niños. “We also try to get donations from Holiday Wish Trees to help the parents in our program who are not able to provide gifts for their children on their own. Hopefully we will have a gift for each parent to give their child so every child has the experience and joy of receiving something from their parent.â€
The local nonprofit, which was established more than 40 years ago, is on a mission to promote child well-being and family stability in the community. Last year Casa de los Niños served nearly 6,000 children and 4,000 families through seven different programs, the largest of which is the Behavioral Health Services Program.
The organization also offers free parenting classes, home-visit programs and a nurse-family partnership that provides parent education, goal-setting and life skills for first-time moms through their last trimester and until their child is 2. The Parents as Teachers Program is designed to “teach parents to be their child’s first, best teacher†and to help children become kindergarten-ready.
“We are really looking at our work as helping kids and healing families and strengthening families so that kids can stay safely in their ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥,†said Gregory.
In conjunction with that vision, Gregory is promoting awareness that Casa de los Niños is one of handful of local Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations. The tax credit allows a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $500 for single or head-of-households or $1,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly on 2017 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ income taxes.
“This is a huge help for our organization. The tax credit donations are as important as any other cash donation.
“Cash donations are important because they allow us to continue providing the critical services that we offer to children and families, and tax credits are a win-win situation for both the donor and Casa de los Niños,†said Gregory.
