Cox: Cox employees in Southern Arizona joined forces with Interfaith Community Services on April 21, to host a free produce and bread box giveaway at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center.
Roy Patel: Dunkin’ franchisee Roy Patel is spearheading a toy drive through May 3 to support the toy closet at Diamond Children’s Medical Center in Tucson. The Toy Closet is used to provide a much-deserved reward to children undergoing medical treatment. But as each child chooses a toy, there is a need to replace it. Patel is gathering new, unwrapped, age-appropriate toys at 3427 E. Speedway. Donations will be accepted inside the Dunkin’ location or the drive-thru.
Recommended donations include stuffed animals, Legos, Play-Doh, stress balls and coloring books. Other requested unwrapped toys include: Teething toys, musical toys, rattles, pop-up books, blocks, learning toys, books (all ages), play kitchen items, matchbox cars, board games, arts and crafts, video games, gift cards, model car kits, jewelry, movies, handheld games, crossword puzzle books, card games and cozy blankets.
Walmart: In honor of National Volunteer Month, several Tucson Walmart employees gathered at Purple Heart Park Friday to help the local nonprofit organization Tucson Clean and Beautiful plant nearly 70 trees for Arbor Day.
“We strive to find opportunities that allow us to give back to the communities we live and operate in,” said Walmart Senior Manager Community Relations Amanda Dubose. “Our associates look forward to working alongside local nonprofit organizations, especially those helping to keep our planet healthy.”
A volunteer shortage is affecting charities across the country. In the Phoenix Arizona, Ronald McDonald House volunteer opportunities like "Dinner Time Hero's" are only seeing 50 percent of the slots filled. Kerry Schulman, Chief Executive Officer, said that while no one knows the exact reason she suspects the amount of people working at home may have an effect. The shortage has forced them to hold off on improvements including hiring more staff. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps survey, formal volunteer participation dropped 7% between 2019 and 2021. That's the largest decrease the survey has recorded since a version of it started in 2002. It’s reached the point where the lack of volunteers strains the safety net that nonprofits provide to many of society’s most vulnerable. The largest drop between 2019 and 2021 in any state was Colorado at 16.1%. Hawaii. Wisconsin and Ohio also saw double-digit drops. Utah also saw a 8.8% drop, but still has the highest rate of volunteering in the country.
