Log in

AHH partners with community to support foster care children

Posted 12/15/20

Arizona Helping Hands held its first drive-through collection event to fill Santa’s Sleigh with gifts for children in foster care.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

AHH partners with community to support foster care children

Posted

Arizona Helping Hands held its first drive-through collection event to fill Santa’s Sleigh with gifts for children in foster care.

The event held on Dec. 8, according to a press release, has traditionally been an open house holiday party, but due to the pandemic was modified to promote safety standards this year.

AHH President/CEO Dan Shufelt stated the holiday toy drive has provided toys to thousands of children for the past 22 years and he had no idea how the new concept would be received.

“Traditionally, businesses have hosted in-office collection drives and provided toys, games, gift cards, and more that were utilized to prepare thousands of gift packages for children in foster care. With so many companies working remotely, we were concerned on how we would fill Santa’s sleigh this year,” Mr. Shufelt said.

In three hours, almost 200 vehicles filled with children, dogs, and adults drove through the parking lot at 3110 E. Thunderbird Road in Phoenix to drop off gifts for children in foster care throughout Arizona.

Vehicles were greeted by volunteer elves with holiday music, hot chocolate, kettle corn, and donors were treated to giveaways from the event’s presenting sponsor – Amazon, the release noted.

“Amazon is proud to give back to the communities where our employees live and work,” said Razvan Stanici, site leader, Amazon Logistics, in a prepared statement.

“We’re honored to partner with Arizona Helping Hands and applaud their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of thousands of children in foster care throughout the state.”

As holidays are difficult for many, especially boys and girls in foster care facing daily challenges throughout the year, the community accepts responsibility to offer hope, the release said.

With this outpouring of support, 3,500 children in foster care will have holiday gifts to open this year, the release added.

“Our community truly joined together and stepped up. With the toys, gift cards and more that we received, we filled Santa’s Sleigh, and will be able to bring hope for the holidays to thousands of children in foster care who have been victims of abuse and neglect,” Mr. Shufelt said.

Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of essential needs to Arizona’s more than 14,000 children in foster care. Year-round programs provide beds, cribs, clothing, diapers, educational supplies, home safety items, and more to promote safety, permanency, and health.

Primary funding for AHH programs comes from Arizona taxpayers through the state’s Qualifying Foster Care tax credit program. Married couples can donate $1,000 per year and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their Arizona tax return.

For information on how to help and make donations: azhelpinghands.org.