Toys needed for TCAA Shoppe

Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) will provide a store atmosphere where donated toys are displayed for needy parents to “shop” for their children. Members of the community can purchase and donate (unwrapped) toys for children ages 0-17 years, or you can donate money that will be used to purchase toys for the Shoppe.

Also needed are donations of wrapping materials including paper, ribbon, bows, tape, etc. You also can volunteer to “work” at the Toy Shoppe by calling TCAA and speaking with Monica Cagle, at 480-350-5879.   

Donations of toys can be dropped off at 2150 E. Orange St., Dec. 11-13.

Be a Santa to a Senior

Now in its fourth year, Home Instead Senior Care’s Be a Santa to a Senior program has brightened the lives of hundreds of thousands of older adults with gifts and companionship.

Participating local nonprofit organizations, including East Valley Senior Services and The Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, have identified needy, orphaned and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care. Christmas trees, which are up in all area local Sam’s Clubs, feature ornaments with the first names only of the needy seniors and their respective gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the senior ornament attached.

A citywide gift-wrapping day, when hundreds of the presents to be wrapped, will be held on Dec. 18. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help with the citywide giftwrapping day, contact Dawn Fiala at 480-827-4343. Businesses are encouraged to contact the local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors.

Fulton Homes gathers books, toys

Tempe-based homebuilder Fulton Homes is teaming up with KEZ 99.9 for the fifth-annual Fulton Homes’ Books and Toys for Girls and Boys.

Through Dec. 19, Valley residents are encouraged to donate new unwrapped books and toys to benefit children who will spend their Christmas at Phoenix Children’s Hospital this year. On Dec. 20, the collected books and toys will be presented to the children in the Emily Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

            New and unwrapped books and toys can be dropped off at Fulton Homes corporate headquarters, 9140 S. Kyrene Road, Ste. 202, or at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway.

Those who donate are also eligible to win a $500 Visa gift card by filling out a registration form at any of the drop-off locations. The winner of the raffle will be contacted prior to the holiday, with just enough time to do some last-minute shopping.

For more information on exactly how and where to donate, call 602-374-6174.