April is National Volunteer Month and one of the best ways you and your family can get involved within your local community is through volunteering.
Fortunately, there are several Arizona-based nonprofit organizations who are consistently in need of volunteers to assist with serving their greater mission of helping others.
United Food Bank
United Food Bank has been providing hunger relief to people in the East Valley since 1983. The local food bank collects, acquires, stores, and distributes food to 150 partner agencies and programs throughout five counties. Each year, United Food Bank distributes over 21.6 million pounds of food equating to 49,000 meals a day. To help provide food for Arizona families facing hunger, United Food Bank relies on volunteers to assist with boxing and storing food. Volunteers, as young as 5 years old, can help build food bags, sort and box food donations, and serve families at its food distributions. unitedfoodbank.org
Arizona Animal Welfare League
The Arizona Animal Welfare League is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in Arizona. Founded in 1971, AAWL rehomes and rehabilitates more than 4,000 rescue animals across the state that have been abandoned or surrendered. Besides adoptions, AAWL offers a variety of services such as animal foster programs, Rural Rescue outreach, youth education, and low-cost clinics. Residents can volunteer at the shelter and become foster pet parents. aawl.org
New Life Center
New Life Center serves more than 1,000 children and adults annually through an emergency shelter and outreach support program, where more than 70% of the shelter population is children. In 2017, New Life Center served more children and provided more bed nights than any other single facility providing emergency shelter to domestic violence survivors in Arizona. Volunteers are always needed at Hope’s Closet, a thrift store in Goodyear owned and operated by New Life Center. newlifectr.org
Hunkapi Programs
Volunteers are vital to the operation of Hunkapi Programs. At Hunkapi, volunteers can choose from a wide variety of opportunities, all of which are designed to support the growth and expansion of the program. No previous experience with horses or disabilities is necessary – you will be taught everything you need to know. hunkapi.org
Arizona’s Children Association
Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) is one of the largest providers of child welfare and behavioral health services in the state of Arizona. The community’s support directly impacts AzCA’s ability to provide essential services to Arizona’s children. An amazing way to show your support is by conducting a volunteer drive, where companies, churches, individuals, businesses, and other organizations can provide necessary items for children and families throughout Arizona. All donated items must be new. arizonaschildren.org
Phoenix Children’s
At Phoenix Children’s, patients and staff count on its wonderful volunteers. Volunteers can provide hope, healing and care for patients and their families through many different options, like engaging with patients at the bedside, assisting in the in-hospital school, or helping families find their way around the hospital campus. Phoenix Children’s in-hospital volunteer program is accepting applications. phoenixchildrens.org/volunteering
The Singletons
The Singletons is a homegrown Arizona-based nonprofit organization devoted to meeting the needs of single-parent families battling cancer by providing strength, hope, resources, and community. With the organization having experienced a 50% increase in families requesting support and services in the last year, there is a critical need for monetary donations, corporate sponsorships, and community volunteers to be able to onboard the families who need help. thesingletonsaz.org
Arizona Helping Hands
Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of essential needs for children in foster care in the state, offering a variety of programs that need volunteers to help the foster community thrive. The nonprofit offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. azhelpinghands.org.
