Spreading Threads: Two Tucson women, Michele Wright and Michele Bennett, who co-founded a clothing bank for foster children have been recognized as 2023 Angels in Adoption honorees by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Wright and Bennett were nominated by Congressman Raul Grijalva.
Angel honorees are selected from nominations of those who have made an extraordinary contribution to adoption, foster care, permanency and child welfare. Wright and Bennett flew to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 16 with two of their four adopted children, Nathanial and Joe. While in Washington, D.C., the couple was able to meet with multiple representatives and senators including Raul Grijalva, Mark Kelly, and Kyrsten Sinema.
Spreading Threads Clothing Bank was launched in 2018 after Arizona cut benefits to foster children and the families that care for them. The cuts negatively impacted the ability for families like theirs to properly cloth the foster children in their care.
Since its inception, Spreading Threads has assisted thousands of children and families in Pima County and Southern Arizona with obtaining the clothing and supplies needed for day-to-day living as well as for school, church and special events such as prom.
Donations of new or gently used clothing, school supplies, toys, books, shoes and personal hygiene products can be dropped in the blue bin at the front of the clothing bank, 2945 N. Flowing Wells Road.
Old Pueblo Community Services: Old Pueblo Community Services has been recognized by Great Place to Work, which specializes in workplace culture and identifies outstanding employee experiences. Great Place to Work has designated Nov. 1 as Certification Nation Day to honor and acknowledge companies working to create great places to work for all.
Old Pueblo Community Services works with partners to provide housing, counseling and support services to more than 2,000 households a year, including veterans, families, youth, individuals struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders, and those re-entering the community post-incarceration.
