Local Nonprofits to Support This Holiday Season

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is Giving Tuesday, a movement of celebrating radical generosity around the globe. After a weekend of Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday splurges, it's a good reminder to see through the clutter to what really matters this holiday season. It’s easy to get caught up in the shopping of it all, but it feels even better to know you’re giving back to the community as we head into the holidays. And I’m not only talking monetarily. I’ve put together a list of local nonprofits to support this holiday season, and while they all could use monetary donations I’m sure, another great way to give back is to donate your time.

UMOM New Day Centers

Image via UMOM

The team at UMOM is dedicated to helping to end homelessness in Arizona through their formula of jobs + housing = ending homelessness. They firmly believe in providing homeless families and individuals with safe shelter, housing and supportive services to assist them in getting back on their feet and reaching their greatest potential. UMOM works hand-in-hand with every person that enters their facility and holds them accountable to their goals, whether it’s helping them find a job, moving them into affordable housing, or getting them a bus pass to get to work. I toured the UMOM campus a few months ago and everything they do to provide a fresh start for their residents is incredible. For Giving Tuesday, UMOM donations will be matched 2 to 1 by their incredible matching donors. So your contribution will go three times as far.

Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL)

Arizona Animal Welfare League is Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter, whose mission is to provide excellent care, protection, and loving compassion for the life of the animals entrusted to them and to take a leadership role in promoting humane values for the benefit of all animals and people. AAWL rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes dogs and cats that have been abandoned or surrendered primarily by rescuing them from other shelters in Maricopa County where they may be euthanized. The shelter itself holds 140 cats and 190 dogs and they also have an extensive foster parent network of about 90 families. There are many ways to get involved with AAWL whether it's through charitable donations, volunteering at the shelter, or by becoming a foster parent.

St. Mary’s Food Bank

Image via Arizona Gives

Did you know the world’s first food bank was started right here in Arizona? St. Mary’s Food bank was founded in 1967, was the first of its kind, and continues to be one of the largest food banks in the world. It provides over 250,000 meals to families in need across Arizona each day by partnering with over 600 nonprofits statewide. There are many ways to get involved with St. Mary’s, from monetary to pantry donations to volunteering, but another cool opportunity they offer is citrus gleaning. We all know someone who has a citrus tree that produces more than they know what to do with, well St. Mary’s will take your extra citrus, and if you sign up in advance, they’ll even send a team to glean your trees for you!

Teen Lifeline

Teen Lifeline’s mission is to connect Arizona’s youth to hope and prevent teen suicide through enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities. It is the only peer–to-peer crisis line in Arizona. In 2023 alone, Teen Lifeline's peer crisis hotline received nearly 48,000 calls and texts from teens in need of help and hope, with 1 in 3 of those coming from a teen considering suicide. The hotline is answered 24/7/365 and from 3pm to 9pm daily, those calls and texts are answered by trained, volunteer peer counselors ages 15-19. Because when teens are in trouble, they’re most likely to open up to other teens. Outside of those hours, calls and texts are answered by the crisis response network at Solari.

Maggie’s Place

Maggie’s Place provides houses of hospitality and ongoing support to help pregnant and parenting women in need reach their goals, and welcomes them into a community filled with love and dignity. Their services range from providing housing, direct support services, parenting and child enrichment, health and wellness, and educational programming. Since its founding in 2000, Maggie’s Place has expanded from one home to 7 and has served nearly 1,200 moms in the community.

Pinal County Animal Care and Control (PCACC)

In 2021, PCACC increased its live release rate to 97.4%, accomplishing its biggest feat in successfully transitioning from a high-kill pound to a no-kill, open-admission shelter. The team is now shifting focus on providing quality care and enrichment to our furry shelter guests and helping the community of pet owners. The shelter also offers community assistance in keeping pets with their families, providing a pet food bank, and offering low cost spay/neutering, vaccines, and medical care. See their list of accepted donations on their site!

Shoebox Ministry

Shoebox Ministry coordinates the collection and distribution of toiletry items via three different “kit” options to those who are experiencing homelessness and others who need but can’t afford hygiene items. Through their hygiene kits, mini kits, and vanity kits, Shoebox is providing basic hygiene essentials to those in need throughout the Phoenix area. They accept monetary donations, but they also have a “hygiene kit recipe” on their site if you want to package your own kits and drop them off.

The Foster Alliance (TFA)

Image via Raising Arizona Kids

In 2023, The Foster Alliance distributed more than $3.5 million worth of essential resources to the foster community – items such as brand-new beds, cribs, shoes, clothing, diapers, pull-ups, and wipes. And that’s just essentials. TFA also provides over 400 personalized birthday gifts monthly to every foster child, teen, and young adult, back-to-school supplies and essentials, and Christmas gifts every holiday season. If you’re looking for a way to support Arizona foster youth this season, consider picking up something on their wishlist, because every child deserves to open something fun on Christmas.

There are so many great local nonprofits across Arizona to get involved with this holiday season. And remember, your contribution to this Giving Tuesday doesn’t have to be monetary. It could be helping a neighbor or being kind to a stranger. If you’re hosting a holiday party, maybe you suggest invitees bring a blanket to donate to the animal shelter or a hygiene kit for the homeless. Lending a helping hand to your community is the best gift you could give this Christmas!