Spread Cheer: Donations, Volunteers, and Sponsors Needed for Arizona Helping Hands’ 24th Annual Holiday Toy Drive for Foster Families

Photos Courtesy of Arizona Helping Hands

The 24th Annual Holiday Toy Drive held by Arizona Helping Hands (AHH) is underway. The event makes the holiday joyful for thousands of children, teens, and young adults in foster care. Donations, volunteers, and sponsors are needed to make this year extra special.

“With rising costs of toys and books, we’re asking the community to step up and help us with gifts and cash donations,” says Maureen Noe, president and CEO, of Arizona Helping Hands. “We provide children 0 to 12 with new toys and books and teens and young adults 13 to 21 will receive gift cards so they can enjoy some holiday shopping. There are many ways for the community to get involved and help make the holidays a little brighter for foster children.”

How You Can Help:
• Host a collection drive by heading over to azhelpinghands.org/holidaytoydrive.
• Bring your new, unwrapped toys to their Fill Santa’s Sleigh event. Held on Tues., Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Arizona Helping Hands, 3110 E. Thunderbird Rd., Suite 100, this community event is a festive drive-thru experience. While dropping off toys to support children in foster care, families can enjoy live music, holiday-themed goodies, and pictures with Santa.
• Buy the most needed toys by visiting the nonprofit’s Amazon Wish List.
Donate by visiting azhelpinghands.org/holidaytoydrive.
• Explore sponsorship opportunities by contacting Bethany Eggleston at [email protected].

The Foster Family Holiday Toy Fest, where toys and gift cards are distributed runs from Dec. 15 through 17. Last year’s holiday drive provided gifts to more than 5,000 foster children. This year, AHH is expecting to serve 6,000 children through the holiday toy drive.

AHH is the largest provider of essential needs to Arizona’s 14,000-plus children in foster care. Year-round programs provide beds, cribs, clothing, diapers, educational supplies, home safety items, and more to promote safety, permanency, and health. Primary funding for AHH programs comes from Arizona taxpayers through the state’s Qualifying Foster Care tax credit program. Married couples can donate $1,000 and single individuals can donate $500 per year and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their Arizona tax returns. For more information on how to help and to donate, please visit azhelpinghands.org.