Arizona Helping Hands Reach Out
"Together we can make a difference," say my friends Judge Paul and Kathleen Donaldson, who founded and operate Arizona Helping Hands. This nonprofit group helps the underprivileged in Phoenix and recently assisted more than 10,000 families with a holiday toy drive.
They collected more than 25,000 toys from Phoenix communities, Mail Box Etc., Safeway, Phoenix Coyotes Alltel Ice Den and NBC toy drive, bringing joy to families this past season who may not have had any gifts to open.
Arizona Helping Hands reaches out to those less fortunate in many ways. They include after-school activities, mentoring, literacy classes to Hispanic families, school supplies, food and clothing, scholarships, physical fitness programs and helping to build pride in low income areas.
They also work and coordinate activities with other nonprofit organizations in our communities that have similar missions and goals. By working together, all organizations functioning within the same community can deliver a broader range of assistance to those persons most in need or "at hope." I'm glad to have helped this organization by having them on my monthly public affairs show, "On the Issues," and by having guests of my monthly breakfast bring gifts for the toy drive. Arizona Helping Hands helps families throughout the year. Visit their Web site at arizonahelpinghands.org for more information.
If you have any questions about this organization or any other issues in District 2, don't hesitate to call my office or send an e-mail. You are also invited to join me at my monthly Issues & Info breakfasts and learn about topics that impact your neighborhood and family. You are always invited to take the opportunity to ask questions about issues that are important to you. The next one is 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Paradise Valley Community College, room B-208 in the Student Services building. It will feature speakers from the college, including the college's president, Dr. Gina Kranitz. I hope to see you there.
Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which encompasses most of northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at (602) 262-7445 or via e-mail at council.district.2@phoenix.gov.
