Child Crisis Center Community Involvement

School Survival Kit

2011-08-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

The penny is to remind you that you are valuable
The star is to remind you to always try your best
The eraser is to remind you that it's okay to make mistakes
The life saver is to let you know that you can always talk to me
The tissue is for drying your tears and those of others
The band-aid is to let you know that together we can make things better
The chocolate hug is to remind you that you are cared for
The sticker is to remind you that we always stick together

Poem from (www.perpetualpreschool.com)

Helping a Child in Danger

2011-05-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

Helping an Abused or Neglected Child
What do you do if a child comes to you? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed and confused in this situation. Child abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept and even harder to talk about. Here are some tips for talking to an abused child.

• Avoid denial and remain calm. A common reaction to news as unpleasant and shocking as child abuse is denial. However, if you display denial to a child, or show shock or disgust at what they are saying, the child may be afraid to continue and will shut down. As hard as it may be, remain as calm and reassuring as you can.

• Don’t interrogate. Let the child explain to you in his or her own words what happened, but don’t interrogate the child or ask leading questions. This may confuse and fluster the child and make it harder for them to continue their story.

• Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong. It takes a lot for a child to come forward about abuse. Reassure him or her that you take what is said seriously, and that it is not the child’s fault.

• Report the abuse by calling the National Child Help Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).

If you suspect a child is being abused, it’s critical to get them the help he or she needs.

An Awesome Volunteer!

2011-05-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Last week, Jeff Fantin received the SRP Presidents’ Volunteer Spirit Award. Employees of SRP build stronger communities though hands-on, personal efforts of giving and this award recognizes the wonderful investment of time and talent Jeff has given the Child Crisis Center over the past 10+ years. He is an incredible asset and has made a dramatic difference in how we do the background work to provide necessary services to our community. Jeff has slowly grown our network as our technology needs continue to grow with every new program and service we provide. He has unwavering dedication and is the consistent support that enables us to maintain quality care to our kids and families. Without Jeff, we could never have afforded to have the technology we use today. We can do so much more with less staff, allowing our dollars to be better used for programs.

Jeff has put in countless hours using his experience, expertise and free time to set up our smooth-running system - and all of it has been as a volunteer. He has brought in other volunteers from SRP to share their expertise and experience when needed.

Not only is Jeff dedicated to being our IT support, but he works as an advocate and fundraiser for us as well. Recently, he organized the first ever Gaming Day fundraiser benefiting the Child Crisis Center and it was a great success! He believes in our mission to help children and prevent child abuse. For that reason, he often works late at night doing the background things that no one sees but that keeps our network functioning so smoothly. We are very proud that he has been selected to receive this award because he is so deserving of recognition for his countless efforts.

Tiny Tots Storybook Makeover

2011-02-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

One of our very talented volunteers, Taress Lazenby, gave our lil ones a little something extra to smile about recently. Using the themes from many well known nursery rhymes or stories, she painted magical scenes around the Tiny Tots Units. Everyone loved the new artwork! Click Here to see the makeover.

Taress, thank you so much for all of your effort and time spent brightening up the unit! Not only do we love it but the kids absolutely LOVE it!!

Dobson High School DECA Students

2010-11-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you the story of some very dedicated High School Students. The DECA students of Dobson High School are some of the most dedicated, responsible, and passionate high school students you will ever meet. These future CEO’s, under the excellent leadership of Anita Cavender, know what it means to give back to their community. They are dedicated to volunteer work and service and know the commitment it takes to make a difference. I had the pleasure of attending their homecoming football game for a check presentation on the field. The students were dead set on not letting me know how much money this group had made, and now I know why…it was $4,000! This very impressive group of students together, with the rest of the Dobson High School community, raised $4,000 for shelter and the little ones we serve. I was in utter shock at the dedication of these students. For homecoming, the students cut strips of paper and sold them for 10¢/strip. The purchased strips were then linked together and decorated the football field the night of the game. The chain linked fence is very symbolic of the effect we can have when we work together. One link cannot reach very far but when we combine our efforts our impact is so much greater. Thank you so much Dobson High School DECA team and every high schooler that raised money for the Child Crisis Center, you have a lasting effect and have truly made a difference.

-pictures to come!

Fall Break is Awesome!

2010-10-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

It’s Fall break and CCC kids have enjoyed many off-site outings and fun new experiences...

They went to the drive in Tuesday night and watched the movie in the CCC truck bed. "They had a great time."
Skateland in Mesa offered us as many skate trips this week for our kids – we took them up on 2 days – all at no charge. They always think about us during school breaks and in the summer- "Skateland Rocks!! The kids and staff really enjoy these outings."
Our volunteer Linda Peterson – Linda spoke to Milano’s music store – and they happened to know someone who was wanting to donate a piano to a worthy agency – and Linda, who has taught piano for many years – offered to give some of our kids on BK unit piano lessons- She comes several times a week and the kids really enjoy their time with her – even some of the toddlers. "Most important they are learning how to play – her love of music and enthusiasm is really rubbing off."
Linda – brought her culinary skills to the children’s unit – and taught them how to make homemade bread from scratch - "The bread was very delicious!! Linda thanks for all you do for our kids!!"

Click here to see some pics of Fall Break at the CCC!

2010-09-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Say hello to Logan Rayment, who celebrated his first birthday recently and his parents asked that guests bring items to donate to the Child Crisis Center in lieu of gifts. It was such a pleasure getting to meet Logan with his bright smiling face and it was easy to see how proud his parents were! Our very good friend and Volunteer Specialists, Cathy Fujino, was among the guests attending Logan's party, and turns out to be Logan's cousin! It is such a small world and you can't have too many friends in it! Happy First Birthday Logan!

Sundt Construction's Dedication to Kids

2010-06-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Above are Jimmie Hulstrom and Cathie Gabriel from Sundt Construction along with Pam Godfrey from the Child Crisis Center. These two lovely ladies and Glenn Bickley came by the shelter a little bit ago for a tour and to give us a check for $2,500! They have an employee nonprofit program to raise money for nonprofits like us. Thank you so much, Sundt Construction, for your dedication and support!

Our Mahnah Club Supporters...

2010-06-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Another Mahnah year has come to an end and we cannot say thank you enough!

The Mahnah Club, our founding representatives, have been so generous to us throughout the years. This year, they presented us with a check for $25,000 that they raised during their 2009-2010 calendar year. They raised this through their Mustang Car Raffle and their annual Gala. We are so grateful for all of the hard work and dedication that these ladies do for us every year! Thank you!

Afternoon Tea

2010-06-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

Longtime direct care volunteer Marilyn Crandall is leaving to go to London on a mission. In honor of her upcoming trip, her goodbye party was a tea party with all of the elegant trimmings. During the summer, Marilyn's home was the cool place to be...it was the one with the pool! She and her husband were so kind as to offer their home for pool parties and swimming field trips for the Center. The staff and kids love Marilyn's kind nature and are truly going to miss her.

At this lovely goodbye tea party the kids had a blast. From pinkies in the air to tea cups and cupcakes they were open to having a wonderful party, boys included! Marilyn was given a scrapbook that the kids and staff compiled for her with some extra special sentiments from some of the kids...

"I will miss you"

"Don't scream on the airplane!"

"Don't get hurt and don't open the door to anyone you don't know"

"Thank you for helping me with my homework"

"Bring money, I think that they have different money in England"

"Is England hot? If it is, don't get dehydrated"

"I hope you have a tea party with the queen"

"Do they speak English in England?"

Thank you, Marilyn, for all that you have done for the Child Crisis Center!

Volunteer Champions

2010-05-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Volunteer Appreciation week was this time last month. We are so appreciative of all of the work our volunteers to for us on a daily basis. We have almost twice as many volunteers as we do staff and all of them do amazing work!

Our staff members at the Shelter came up with 3 special people to recognize as this year’s Volunteer Champions! These special volunteers are Deb Harding, Selina McKee, and Terri Tomlinson…below see what our staff has to say about these incredible and caring people:

“Deb Harding is one of the most thoughtful caring people I have had the pleasure to work with. She is always looking out for the children’s well being. Whether it’s just playing with a child when she comes to volunteer or planning a fun field trip, whatever the situation, Deb puts her heart and soul into everything she does.”

“Selina McKee has always gone above and beyond. She is here every Saturday with a smile on her face and a willingness to do whatever we need her to help out with. She interacts well with the kids and they are always so happy to see her. “

“Terri Tomlinson is very consistent, caring, and nurturing to all of our children. Terri has been so consistent that she has the routines down so she is able to assist the staff with a variety of chores, baths or just simply keeping the children entertained during the moments of higher need. Terri always goes above and beyond to ensure that she is utilized in the most effective way for the children and staff. We all love and appreciate her so much.”

A warm thanks!

2010-05-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ocotillo Women's League has continued their support of the Child Crisis Center by making colorful pillows for the kids here at the Crisis Center. Ellen Voelker and Sharon Anton delivered these soft, cuddly pillows to the Center and stayed to tour our facility. Thanks to all these wonderful ladies for their gracious efforts to brighten our home!

Palo Verde Republican Women

2010-05-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

We want to say a big "THANK YOU" TO THE Palo Verde Republican Women in Scottsdale who have adopted the Center and collected diapers, wipes, paper goods and financial assistance during their monthly meeting. We plan to use the funds collected to purchase a new digital camera for the staff to use during intakes. The Polaroid camera is being put to rest!

We are so grateful for their generosity each month!

New Truck for the CCC!

2010-04-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday we received a truck donated to us from the Valley Automobile Dealership Association. This nice truck is a perfect addition to the Center and we are so grateful for it, thank you VADA!

Volunteer Spotlight

2010-02-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

Direct Care volunteers carry out the Child Crisis Center’s mission and are at the center of every service and program. We have more volunteers than we do staff at the center and they are responsible from everything to direct care with our kids to helping raise funds to support our programs. Longtime volunteers, Annette and Paul Cardosi, recently donated a storage unit to be put in our Family Resource Center (FRC) parking lot. Annette and Paul have been wonderful volunteers for the center. They were direct care volunteers and were able to bring joy and positive encouragement for the kids. Our kids really enjoyed the time that this loving couple spent with the children, some even asked for Annette before her shifts. Annette and Paul own Units (www.unitsaz.com) in Phoenix, Arizona and are perfect for all of your storage needs! The storage container they brought us has been perfect and we encourage you to give them a call when you’re in the market for a storage space. We are always looking for caring and positive volunteers like Annette and Paul, if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering please visit www.childcrisis.org and download a volunteer application.

"A day on, not a day off"

2010-01-27T09:10:00.001-08:00

During the Many Faces, One Community Mesa Celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Child Crisis Center was awarded the Community Service Award for the Center's work reflecting “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s belief that our children can be taught to lead extraordinary lives and grow to become examples of the courage required to change history.” Thank you to our many supporters! It is because of you and your priceless gift of compassion that we are able to work together, establish a tradition of service, and make a difference.

Intel brought the Holiday Spirit this year

2010-01-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

This past December, over 30 volunteers from Intel helped at the Shelter. They did anything and everything-- cleaned the playgrounds, vans, organized the closets, and even decorated every room (inside and outside) for the Holiday season. Thank you so much Intel, you made the Holidays bright!

A trip to the Arizona Science Center

2010-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

Recently, our kids were able to have a wonderful outing made possible by Target and experience the new Robots interactive exhibit at the Arizona Science Center. The kids learned a lot and had a great time in the process. They wanted to say “Thank you Target”!

Thank You Sovereign Grace Church

2009-11-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

We would like to extend a warm thank you to Sovereign Grace Church for their time and dedication to the shelter. They spent their Saturday (Nov. 14) cleaning all three of our playgrounds and did such a great job. In addition to the amazing help with our playgrounds, Sovereign Grace found out that we needed diapers and decided to do a diaper drive during the month of Novemeber. Manny Salinas headed up the diaper drive which resulted in 4 huge bins full (over 2200 diapers!!). If that wasn't enough help already, they even came with some toys that they dropped off as well. This is truly incredible and we are so appreciative of all of the support!

Big Thanks

2009-11-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

We had a great need to for many different pairs of shoes for our children at the shelter. Marianne VonTersch and Lynn Granucci were able to help us out on this need. Together they worked to buy 40 pairs of shoes over the last couple months. The gracious duo donated these very nice shoes to our children. Along with the shoes, Marianne and Lynn also donated 25 handmade fleece blankets. It is amazing to see the kindness in people and the ability to give so generously. It is because of people like Marianne and Lynn that we are able to continue on and enable strong families and safer children. Thank you, Marianne and Lynn for everything, our kids loved receiving their brand new shoes!!

National Adoption Day

2009-11-23T07:25:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday was the 10th annual National Adoption Day, a celebration and an opportunity for many new families and many finalized adoptions. Arizona Adoption and Foster Care, a project of the Child Crisis Center prepared for this national holiday for many months on end and facilitated many adoptions that were finalized on this special day. This year, there were 13 new families that went through the process with 16 children finally being able to have their adoption finalized. In Arizona, there are over 2,500 children who are waiting to be adopted. If you have ever thought of becoming an adoptive parent please feel free to visit our Arizona Adoption and Foster Care website: http://www.childcrisis.org/aafc/index.html. Arizona Adoption & Foster Care's programs provide parents with exceptional education and training, child-family matching services, and post-placement support and services. It serves single and two-parent families and has no limitations on religious beliefs, ethnicity or sexual preference.

Immediate Needs and Holiday Help

2009-11-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

We are in immediate need of a couple of items for our shelter:

-Diapers (sizes 4 & 5)
-Small Pull Ups (sizes 3T & 4T)

*A refrigerator to store milk for our tiny tots

These items are essential to the Shelter and our ability to serve our children and any help is greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate or know someone who could please contact Pam Godfrey at 480.969.2308.

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As the holiday season fast approaches we are reminded of the ever growing need for many families and children this year. The holidays can be especially tough for children living at the Child Crisis Center or in its Foster & Adoptive homes, who often face the season without parents, siblings or other relatives. Your donations help make the holiday season brighter for these children.

The Child Crisis Center, Arizona Adoption & Foster Care, and the Family Resource Center's Top 3 Wishes: 1. Clothing for children 0-17 years, especially bigger sizes and teen sizes, 2. Gas gift cards, 3. Car seats (especially for toddlers) and strollers.

Please consider helping and visit: http://www.childcrisis.org/donate/holidays for information on how you can help.

Macy's Shop For A Cause Day on Saturday

2009-10-15T10:08:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to come to Macy's this Saturday, October 17th and Shop For A Cause. You can help the Child Crisis Center by purchasing a $5 Shopping Pass for exclusive savings and special offers in every Macy’s store on Saturday, October 17th.

As a participating charity we keep 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each pass. Plus, you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s Gift Card! Come together with Macy’s and us, and while you’re out enjoy a day of shopping and great savings, you’ll be helping our community at the same time. When buying your savings pass, be sure to let them know you want the Child Crisis Center to benefit. We also have them on sale here at the Center if you are interested. Call Pam at (480) 969-2308

Bring on the Fall!

2009-10-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! The weather has turned beautiful and we want to start taking the Tiny Tots out for walks, field trips and to the Zoo. Boy, have they needed some fresh air!

We discovered that our strollers have seen better days, weather-worn with broken straps and wheels. If you are able to donate new or used strollers (in good working order), Tiny Tots will be road ready and staff ever so grateful! Our ideal would be to have four double strollers and f0ur singles.

Bounce Jungle jumps for us!

2009-09-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Bounce Jungle will have an extended bounce/play day on Sunday, September 27th at their Chandler location, 2301 E. Yeager Drive in Chandler. Please come and join us for a day of cool fun and excitement. All donations to benefit the Child Crisis Center.

Macy's is making a difference!

2009-09-24T13:09:00.001-07:00

Since 2006, Macy’s Shop For A Cause Event has partnered with non-profit organizations nationwide to raise more than $28 million for their ongoing charitable efforts. This is your chance to be part of this monumental event
on Saturday, October 17, 2009.

Shop For A Cause gives you the opportunity to help the Child Crisis Center by purchasing a $5 Shopping Pass* for exclusive savings and special offers in every Macy’s store on Saturday, October 17th. As a participating charity we keep 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each pass. Plus, you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s Gift Card!

Come together with Macy’s and us, and while you’re out enjoy a day of shopping and great savings, you’ll be helping our community at the same time.

*Some exclusions apply. For more information or to order a shopping pass, call contact Pam Godfrey at 480-969-2308 or pamela.godfrey@childcrisis.org

It IS what's inside at Intel!

2009-09-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

The AZ Intel Parents Network Toddler Group sponsored an exciting workshop on infant and child brain development on August 19th at their Chandler facility. “Wired for Success” was presented Dr. Darlene Pany, Adjunct Faculty for by New Directions Institute. This one-hour workshop showed parents and caregivers how critical their role can be in stimulating a child’s development. IPN also collected a bin full of toys, diapers, baby food and clothing for the Child Crisis Center at the event. With more than 80 employees in attendance, the response to the workshop and the number of donations was positive and significant!

East Valley Martial Arts Neighborhood Appreciation Night and Charity Auction

2009-09-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is cooling off in the evening, what could be better than a night out with the family! East Valley Martial Arts is sponsoring a Neighborhood Appreciation Night and Charity Auction to benefit the Child Crisis Center at the dojo at 2401 E. Baselilne Road, 1/2 mile east of Gilbert Road. Look for the red Karate sign on the South side of Baseline.

Join us for lots of fun and good information for the family, kids video game contest by Game Crazy, activities for the little ones, Free food and drinks karate demonstrations wraffles, bouncers, great food, Gilbert Fire and Police Department water safety and neighborhood safety information! Hope to see you there! For more information go to www.evma.net

Diapers Needed

2009-09-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

We had such a good response from our last appeal, we thought we'd let everyone know that we are in desperate need of diapers right now. Specifically, diapers in sizes 4 & 5, as well as Small Pull-Ups. We've actually had to run out to the store to buy more. With 15 kids needing several diapers a day, that's a lot of money. If you or a group you are a part of can do a diaper drive for us, we'd really appreciate any help you can give. We are part of a generous community and thank you for your ongoing support!

AT Stills summer camp was a hit!

2009-09-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

The kids had a fun-filled two weeks of Camp Prime activities that they are STILL talking about! This collaboration between CCC and the Occupational Therapy Department of AT Stills University was a HUGE success! The goals of the program were to improve behavioral skills, task directedness and skills practice in the areas of mealtime management and self-care. The weekly themes included “Meal Prep” and “Looking Good” – pizza was not one of the themes, but we sure had a lot of it! Thanks go out to the Mesa Hilton and NYPD pizza in Chandler for allowing us the opportunity to practice our manners while enjoying two delicious lunch outings. The kids LOVED participating in all the activities. They still have their aprons and the badges they earned for completing an activity as well as their own personal memory photo album of the experience. The most notable success for us was the fact that there were NO time-outs on during the entire 2 week camp period! We hope to make this a yearly event. Thanks to all who helped facilitate this unique opportunity!

Healing Hands Help....

2009-09-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 1st, the Infinite Healing Center in Mesa raised more than $400 through their 'Healing Hands' community event - all proceeds went to the Child Crisis Center. 'Healing Hands' served as an invitation and a challenge to the community to cool down for a good cause. Massages were given at $1 per minute during the five-hour challenge.

Congratulations to the Infinite Healing Center for helping to make a difference and touch the lives of those from within our community...and a special thanks to all those who participated!

Go Diamondbacks

2009-08-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of the Maag Toy Foundation, our big kids enjoyed a night out at the ball park! When the kids were each asked what they liked about the baseball game this is what was said:

“I enjoyed trying to catch the baseballs when they got close to us”
“It was really cool watching the scores change on the big board”
“I liked EVERYTHING”
“I liked making signs and cheering for the diamondbacks, it was fun”
“I enjoyed getting my face painted”
“I enjoyed learning more about baseball”
“I liked watching the players try to catch the ball and also hitting it really far”

Thanks for providing an opportunity for our kids! It was a great experience and they had a great time!

Our shelves are stocked

2009-08-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

A special Thank You to all the groups and individuals who responded to our urgent plea to help fill our near empty shelves. With 42 children in our shelter, 15 of whom are age 3 and under, we go through a lot of baby food and formula each week! Thanks to the committment and collection drives by several people, we no longer have to worry about what to feed our kids - for a while anyway! This is an ongoing need and we are always grateful to receive donations.

We'd like to give a shout out to the following people:

Mesa Community of Christ

The Gap employees

Eagle Scout Dallin Mickelson and Troop #859

Eagle Scout Damon Munden

Keith Price
Broadway Christian Church
Lisa Byrd
Banner Health E-ICU

Scottsdale Healthcare

Clinical Research Advantage

Lexi Hart & Ashley Ledbetter

Jean's Day Raises Clothes and Funds!

2009-08-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

The team at Clinical Research Advantage dropped by last week during the heat of the day and brought new clothes and several boxes of baby food, and our staff dug into the swimmer diapers they donated immediately on their way to the pool! The employees also raised $337 during their Friday Jeans Day at the office, and plan to continue the tradition. Thanks for helping to fill our shelves, and buys some new clothes for school!

Red Mountain High School Lions Roar this summer!

2009-07-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

Red Mountain High School students Delaney Burdick, Chris Heinl and Kinsie Peterson gave us some big hands and brought boys toys, some beautiful bracelets made by the students for the girls, and a great big Knott's Berry Farm bear for the kids here at the Center! Thank you Red Mountain Lions for your team spirit!

Happy Birthday for us!

2009-07-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

Dean walked into our shelter this morning beaming from ear to ear as he pulled his red wagon into our lobby. It was full of presents he had received for his 4th birthday. Instead of keeping them all, he wanted to donate them to the kids in our shelter who may not get many presents. A special thanks to his mom and dad for raising such a generous little man & to his friends who donated items that we were thrilled to receive! Most of all, thank you Dean for sharing your birthday with us – what a thoughtful act!

Bounce away the summer!

2009-07-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

We want to send a big “thank you” out to Bounce Jungle in Chandler who have invited our kids out to jump and plan to host a fundraiser to benefit our shelter! We’ll let you know as soon as the date is set. It will be great fun for everyone!

All Kids Are Gifted Summer Program

2009-07-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Educational Updates from Tutor, Linda Ponter

The kids really enjoyed “going green” at the All Kids Are Gifted summer school program at Whitman Elementary. They participated in hands-on learning activities to improve their academic and social skills through thematic “Rain Forest” activities. They studied the layers of the rain forest, the water cycle, and the plants and animals found there. In addition, they learned about the products that come from the rain forest and the importance of conservation. They got to sample some delicious foods, too! This program also reinforced skills such as teamwork, effort, problem solving, responsibility, caring and perseverance. ALL the kids said they enjoyed this fun, FREE program – even the ones who were initially reluctant to go had a GREAT time!

The summer program culminated with an Open House Family Night where the kids eagerly showed off their projects and art work and participated in a musical performance. The kids love to share their knowledge, so ask them to tell you about the rainforest! Also, stop by the tutor room to see some of their wonderful projects!

Speaking of the tutor room…IT IS FINISHED!!! YAY!!! I am so pleased to have this beautiful new space where the kids can go to do homework, quiet reading and STUDYING!

In addition to the tutor room, we also have a cute new preschool classroom! This space will be used for preschool classes with me as well as for staff training.

Tiny tots need baby food

2009-07-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

Just received an urgent message from our Staff that our Tiny Tots baby food shelves are running dangerously low, so I’m putting out an APB for jars of fruits and vegetables! If anyone has some leftover summer energy and can help us out with a baby food drive, we would be so grateful!

Girl Scout troop 724 helps us put our best foot forward

2009-07-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Girl Scout troop 724 sponsored a flip-flop service project during their campout this summer. Each girl was asked to bring a new pair of sandals to camp, which were then decorated and donated in hopes that our kids would enjoy wearing them. And I can say with confidence that our kids will love them! Thank you to the Girl Scouts in troops 724, 2624 & 697 who donated over 70 pair, and to their leaders, Lora Lee & Sherrie who helped to organize the project! Our kids will have the best dressed feet at the pool.

Intel celebrates birthdays at the Center

2009-06-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

On a quiet Friday afternoon at the Center, Intel shook up the silence by delivering 16-20 moving boxes full of birthday celebration items. With 42 kids at our shelter, we have a lot of celebrating to do, and it’s great to have cakes, frosting, candles, decorations, paper and ribbons to quickly grab off the shelf. They also donated summer clothes so our kids can look their best while they party. Thanks for helping us celebrate all year long!

Thanks Moms!

2009-06-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

Swimming at the pool this summer has been a steady activity for the kids at the Child Crisis Center, and the Mom’s Club of Gilbert South helped supply the fun today by providing pool toys, swimming diapers and pull-ups! They also made a financial donation so that we can get the kids ready for school! Thanks Moms!

City of Mesa Community Spirit comes up with the beans

2009-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Damas Salas from the City of Mesa Community Spirit program dropped by last week with a check for $1,574 from the employees from their Chili Contest and Bake Sale, AND from their Burrito sale. COOL BEANS! (oh no, I hope they were a little warm!). We appreciate the Community Spirit team for the support of the shelter in so many of their activities year after year, and are so grateful to Damas for his friendship. You Rock!

The GAP managers share one of the things they do best

2009-06-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever been in a Gap store (or Old Navy & Banana Republic) you’ve probably seen how all of their merchandise is folded nice and neat. The organization is obvious, and we were such grateful recipients to now have our storage areas that look the same way! We had about a dozen area managers volunteer their time to straighten and organize our basements which store blankets that new children coming to the shelter get to choose from as a comfort item for their bed. They also organized our clothes closet by refolding the clothes and putting together each size in its own area to best utilize the space we had. They did the same thing for our shoes, diapers, towels, sheets and birthday boxes. They were able to spend a few hours attending to the things our staff rarely have time to do. Thanks to all the Gap managers for using your skills and sharing your time to help us stay organized!

Target managers spend an afternoon with our kids

2009-06-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

This week, 16 people who spend their work time as managers for Target, spent their free time building self esteem in our kids. Working individually with the children in our shelter, they made beaded bracelets and necklaces that were worn with pride. Next they moved outside to see how far the kids could toss water balloons back and forth without dropping them. The Target volunteers were great sports, and the children appreciated that all had “targets” on their shirt which made them easy to aim for. They ended the afternoon by enjoying ice cream sundaes in the shade. The gummy worm toppings were almost as popular as the Superman ice cream. It was a great activity for our children, and just today I had a little girl show me the bracelet she made. She has worn it every day since. Thank you Target for sharing your time with us and for being great examples for our kids!