Current Needs Update

Thanksgiving Food

When we distribute fully cooked/flash frozen meals to our families in need we also give them a hygiene bag with shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant. 

CURRENT NEED:  toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorants (400 of each)

Drive items need to be in by: November 14^th

 

When families come to pick up their boxes, we often see as many as 30-40 children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained.  We are also looking for donations of booster seats and convertible car seats.  These donations must be NEW because of liability.  We will have a local agency to instruct parents on installation and have them sign a waiver before receiving the car seats, but that agency can NOT provide us with the car seats.

CURRENT NEED: 30 booster seats 15 convertible car seats

Drive items need to be in by: November 14th

 

Winter Wonderland

This is our holiday gift program for families in need.  We provide Kyrene families in need with two new toys per child in the home (ages 0-17).  We expect to serve more families in need this year than last year.  Last year we served over 800 children.  We rely on the community to host drives and donate new toys and gift cards for this event.

CURRENT NEED:  collection drives for new toys, we ALWAYS need more middle school and older kids gifts.

Drive items need to be in by: December 12^th

 

Please contact kfvolunteer@cox.net  if you are planning to host a drive, have questions or would like to make a donation.

Volunteering at the Kyrene Family Resource Center

We are so fortunate to have dedicated individuals who come to spend a few hours a couple times a month helping us keep our head above water with processing donations, packing food boxes, hanging clothing and keeping our distribution room nice for families.

If you are interested in volunteering we would love to have you!

Currently volunteers are coming every month on the following days (unless it is a school holiday)

• First and third Tuesdays of the month
• Second and fourth Mondays of the month

The hours for volunteering are between 9am and 2pm.  You choose an hour or more within that time frame, whatever works best for you!

If you would like to volunteer with us please email kfvolunteer@cox.net

University of Phoenix Cleans Up Nice!

I should have taken before pictures... our warehouse room was a MESS.

Thankfully University of Phoenix's CE Department came to our rescue.  Denise, Vicki, Joanne, Karina, Kayonni, Jamie, Gabe, Laura and Melissa came to volunteer today and let me tell you... we put them to WORK!

Unpacking food pallets, organizing hygiene and school supplies, processing clothing donations, breaking down boxes for recycling and more!

This group also did a HUGE dress drive for our Wishes Come True event last year, they are truly FRIENDS of the Foundation!

Thank you!

Summer's Over ...KFRC is OPEN!

Well, summer is over but the heat is still here!  One week into the new school year and we have already distributed close to 1000 packed backpacks for Back to School!

Over the summer so many volunteers, like The Standard group below, volunteered time, energy and money to making our Back to School "Stuff the Bus" event so successful!

As always we are so grateful to the community for always stepping up and coming through for Kyrene kids in need.

It's going to be a GREAT year!

Thank you!

It's Raining SHOES!

We often wish for more shoe donations here at the resource center...but donated children's shoes can be tricky because kids tend to wear thier shoes out.  Most of the donated shoes that come in are either not proper school shoes or are just too worn out.

The APA and local pediatricians have advised us that it can be harmful to a child's growing body for children to wear another child's worn shoes so we take this into consideration for every pair of shoes we put out.

But back to our wishes... A gentleman named Craig Hayton who has volunteered here at our center a couple times with his neighbors, wrote us a note asking...what do you need?  His church was looking for a community organization to donate to and Craig thought of us.

So we answered: shoes.  We asked for enough money to provide around 15 pairs of shoes a month for Kyrene kids who need school appropriate shoes.

We asked and they answered to the tune of $3600.00!  Imagine how excited we are to start off the next school year with funds in place for shoes!!

Thank you to Mr. Craig Hayton and the Missio Dei Communities Church!!!

Kyrene de los Cerritos "Good Night Bags"!

Cerritos kindergarten and 1st grade classes put together 170 of these great "Good Night" bags for our students in need.

 The bags contain books, snacks and toys for summer fun.  Each bag is hand decorated by the students themselves!

Hard at work sorting and packing.

Thank you Cerritos Students and Staff!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Thank you Esperanza for 100  jars of peanut butter and 70 jars of jelly!

University of Phoenix Group Brings Bling To Wishes Come True Event!

The following ladies from School of Continuing Education @ University of Phoenix, Online, came together to bring a large donation of dresses, makeup and accessories for Kyrene Wishes Come True event. 



1. Ebony Jones
2. Kayonni Jones
3. Jennifer Gibson
4. Natasha Maldonado
5. Dena Flynn
6. Kristin Pitarys
7. Erica Benefiel
8. Selina Homily
9. Tametcia Green

 "We hope the girls have a great time selecting a dress for their commencement. You all are doing a great thing for them; thanks for letting Continuing Education @ UOPX be a part of making a difference for their special day!"





Thank you ladies for all of your hard work in communicating our need, gathering and delivering the donations! We appreciate every sparkle!

Ahwatukee Rotary Club!!

 Ahwatukee Foothills and Girls Scouts Troop delivered an estimated 150 hygiene kits to the Kyrene Family Resource Center this week!

Each bag is marked with a ribbon to indicate if it is for men or women.

Kits included a variety of hygiene items and every kit included a package of toliet paper!

Great job!

Thank you!!

Keller Williams, Sonoran Living Group Gives BIG!!

They said they wanted us to come to help kick off their annual food drive which benefits our Kyrene Family Resource Center.  "Come and talk about the center a bit, to get the group ready for our "Red Day"" -they said.

We love "Red Day" so, of course, we went to talk about KFRC and tell them how happy we are for this food drive.

So we went... and then... they did this......

Okay ... breathe... That IS a check for almost $12,000.00.  Twelve thousand dollars!  We were surprised, stunned and grateful...so very grateful!

The Sonoran Living Group of Keller Williams particpates in R.E.A.C.T which stands for Real Estate Agents Caring Together! 

This group has been a longtime champion for our Kyrene Family Resource Center and when we were there for thier meeting we got a chance to hear about a couple other ways this group is contributing to the community.  What a group of wonderful people!

Thank you! YOU are making a difference!!

Dayspring Book Exchange Benefits KFRC!

Thank you Dayspring!  Dayspring had their annual book exchange and any books that were left behind came to Kyrene Family Resource Center!  We love to send all of the kids that come in to the center home with a book, or two!

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Colina 2nd Grade Girl Scouts

Who's cute as a button and brings 50 reusable food bags?  Kyrene de la Colina Girl Scouts, that's who!

We want to thank the 2nd grade Colina Girl Scouts for cleaning up our center, organizing and the beautiful hand decorated reusable food bags.  They did a great job volunteering.

THANK YOU GIRLS!!

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Manitas Food Drive!

Aren't our Kyrene schools just the best?  We think so!  Kyrene de las Manitas came by today with a food donation!  Look at all that good stuff!



THANK YOU MANITAS!!

Easter Basket Hunt!

You may remember that we received 400+ Easter Baskets from the Kyrene Girls Scout troops.  So what do you do with 400 Easter Baskets? 

Have an Easter Basket Hunt of course!

We invited families in Kyrene to come the Wednesday before Easter and pick out a basket.  Some families picked out baskets during our normal family hours at the Resource Center and some baskets were delivered to students and homes by our Kyrene Prevention Team staff and the rest came to 'hunt' for their own baskets!

We had a blast watching the kids running around to pick out the very best basket for them!




Thank you Prevention Team for setting up this fun event, and THANK YOU Girl Scout Troops for the beautiful baskets!

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Resource Action Committee Meets To Plan For Growth In Services!

The first ever Resource Action Committee meeting, or RAC Meeting, occurred earlier this week.  Kyrene staff and community members came together to begin laying the foundation to grow services provided by the Kyrene Family Resource Center. 
The groups immediate goals are to begin providing fresh food in addition to our pantry food, making our family food boxes healthier for Kyrene kids and to begin a Kyrene Resource Center Voucher Program whereby Kyrene staff can provide families in need with a voucher for crisis services such as medical, dental, mental health, legal, etc.

There were eleven committed members at our first meeting and we are looking to add a few more members by the next meeting.  If you are interested in committing to growing services at the Kyrene Family Resource center for our Kyrene kids, please contact kfvolunteer@cox.net for more information.

Waggoner Daisy Troop Delivers Cookies!

These cuties brought us 175 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to add to our food boxes!

They got to tour the center and find out about all the work we do here for Kyrene Kids and then they stocked up our food shelves with cookies!

Say "COOKIES!"

THANK YOU GIRLS!

Ahwatukee Neighborhood Girl Scout Service Project

What says spring more than 417 Easter Baskets!?!

Thirty (30) Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette and Senior Groups came together to collect for and pack 400 Easter Baskets for elementary aged students in need in Kyrene.

Peek-a-boo!

The Kyrene Prevention Team will be hosting an Easter Basket hunt next week for families to come receive an basket for children ages 4-10 years old.  Any unclaimed baskets will be passed along to a local church who also distributes baskets to children in need.

Thank you Girl Scouts!!

Friends Get Together To Collect Donations For 8th Grade Promotion

Wishes DO come true! 

Thank you to Cindy Sleasman and all her friends for a wonderful donation of over fourty dresses, gently used shoes and cute jewlery!

Thank you Ladies!

Birthday Boy Gifts Kyrene Kids In Need!

A very special young man had a wonderful idea to have his friends and family bring a donation for the Kyrene Family Resource Center in lieu of presents.  Check it out!

Nathan Lamp, Kyrene de los Cerritos 2nd Grader

Thank you Nathan!!

Chase Bank Volunteers For Second Year In A Row!

Yay for Chase Bank!!  For the second year in a row we have had the pleasure of having Chase Bank branch managers and assistant managers come and spend the day working at our Kyrene Family Resource Center.

This is a HUGE group and they work HARD!
We started off the day by sorting all of the wonderful donations that each person brought with them!

We are so appreciative of all the individuals who come from all over the state... yes you read that correct...they come from all over Arizona to do a service project together.  Amazing!

The day is full of laughter and fun and at the end of the day our Resource Center looks incredible.


THANK YOU CHASE BANK!!

Kyrene de la Paloma Delivers Goods!

Paloma Elementary delivered a full pallet of food and hygiene supplies to the Kyrene Family Resource Center!

Awesome job Doves!  We appreciate YOU!

Did you know we see about 30-40 families a week at the Kyrene Family Resource Center?  Each family receives a food box or two (depending on family size) a hygiene kit and two complete outfits for each child in the home.  It takes students like YOU to keep us stocked up so no student in Kyrene goes hungry.

Thank you!

C.I. Waggoner Hygiene Drive

Wildcats to the rescue! 

Thank YOU Waggoner students for over $600 dollars worth of shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, tissues, soap and more!!

We appreciate your help!

Kyrene de la Colina SOUPer Bowl Donation Drive!

Hey Vegas!!  How about 13 years in a row calling the super bowl winner?! 

Colina Elementary holds a SOUPer Bowl food drive every year and the kids 'vote' for who they believe will win the super bowl with thier donations.

13 years in a row....Colina has picked the super bowl winner!  Way to go Colina!!

Colina kids raised over 1200 pantry items for the Kyrene Family Resource Center.

Thank YOU!

Wishes Come True

8th Grade Promotion Dress Drive

...because not every 8th grade girl can afford a special dress for a one-time event

Kyrene Family Resource Center is collecting like-new semi-formal attire that is appropriate for 8th grade graduation and promotion dance. 

Now collecting new or like-new:

Semi-formal dresses

Fashionable  jewelry

Hair accessories

*New* makeup and lotions

Donations accepted NOW through April 27, 2012

Donations can be dropped off at: Kyrene School District Office, Kyrene Family Resource Center and Altadena Middle School  & Kyrene Middle School.

Questions?  Email  kfvolunteer@cox.net

Kyrene Akimel A-al Donates Hygiene Supplies

Rattlers!

Boxes of hygiene items keep flowing in from Akimel A-Al.  A school wide drive lead by the Akimel A-al PTSO.  Estimated at $500 worth of supplies thus far with more coming next week!

Thank YOU Akimel A-al!!!

Esperanza SOUPer Bowl Challenge!

YAY! for Kyrene de la Esperanza!!

 

Esperanza kids collected food donations and put their cans in bins as a vote for who would win the Super Bowl.  The end count was 342 cans for the Giants and 285 cans for the Patriots!

A big thank you to Heather Powers for leading the event.
Thank you for the wonderful donation Esperanza!

 

Summer Activity Packs

We need YOUR help!  Support Kyrene Kids in need this summer by providing educational and fun items to promote learning! 900 Summer Activity Packs will be distributed to Kyrene Kids in need in grades Kindergarten—3rd grade.

We need 900:
packs of crayons, packs of markers, deck of cards, card games, spiral bound notebooks, glue sticks, jump rope, pair of dice, small puzzles and games


* All items must be received by Monday, March 19, 2011.


Donation Drop Off Locations:
Kyrene Resource Center            Kyrene District Office
1330 East Dava Drive                  8700 S. Kyrene Road
Tempe, AZ 85284                         Tempe, AZ 85226

Cerritos 2nd Graders (and a Kinder!) Volunteer!

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Thank you Cerritos!!  Hygiene bags packed, food boxes packed, pallets of canned goods unloaded, books sorted and summer project started...WHEW!!!  Great work today Cerritos!

YOU Can Make a Difference Too!

Looking for a way to get involved and make a difference?  Check out the Kyrene Resource Center's upcoming projects and opportunities.

FRC TOUR – Friday, February 3^rd, 9:45 am

Anyone is welcome to come over and find out all about KFRC.  This is a great awareness opportunity for our Kyrene Community!  Find out what we do here, who we serve and why we do it.  Most of our donors and volunteers become involved with the Foundation or make donations to the Resource Center after touring the center. 

SUMMER ACTIVITY PACKS – we need to create 900 kits to be sent home!

Summer Activity Kits are distributed to all of our homeless and at risk students who fall far below grade level.  Activity Kits are grade specific and include academic materials created by teachers and specialists in Kyrene.  The Kits are designed to keep kids engaged in learning over the summer break. 

What we know and understand is not all of our students will be given learning opportunities over the summer break, in fact many of them will be unsupervised at home for most of the summer.  Summer Activity Kits is one way we can keep those students engaged in the learning process and offer summer fun like jump ropes!  Kits are distributed to students on the last day of school.

We will begin collecting items for Summer Activity Kits in February!

How can YOU help?

• We need groups to hold donation drives Do you have a group or a business that can help us with this project?  We will need 900 of each item to complete our packs! Drives can collect one or more of the following needed items:
• Crayons
• Markers
• Deck of cards
• Wide ruled spiral bound notebooks
• glue sticks
• jump rope
• pair of dice (can purchase 10pack dice to be broken into pairs)
• small puzzles and games
• Sorting and organizing event: March 19 from 3:30-6:30 at the district office board room.  Volunteer groups welcome!  
•  Our assembly day for this project will be on Wednesday, March 21^st from 1-4pm at the district office board room.    

WISHES COME TRUE!

In Kyrene, we want all our students wishes to come true!  Graduation and promotion dances are a big rite of passage for our students.  For many of our families buying a semi-formal dress that will be worn once or twice...is not an option.  For that reason we hold our Wishes Come True event where school administrators and teachers can refer a student in need to come and 'shop' for a dress, accessories, purse, shoes and more for the big day!

Collection of dresses and accessories  will begin on Monday, March 19 when we return from Spring Break and will continue through the month of April.  Donations of gently used dresses for 8^th grade promotion ceremonies are needed, donations of jewelry, and new make-up items, gift sets, hair supplies, etc. are also accepted.  Please remember dresses need to meet school dress codes.

Donations can be brought to our Kyrene Family Resource Center.

The Wishes Come True event will be held on Thursday, May 3^rd from 4-7 pm at the District Office, volunteers are needed.  

FRC Volunteer Day – Friday, May 25^th 8am-noon

This is a great volunteer day!  Although volunteers are needed weekly at the Resource Center, at the end of May we hold a large volunteer day to help close the Resource Center for the Summer months.  Kyrene Schools are closed this day but we are OPEN for volunteers.  There is lots of work and heavy-lifting involved on this particular day, so all volunteers need to be ages 12+.  Any middle-school/high school volunteers must have a parent present to volunteer on this day.  RSVP’s for this project should be sent to kfvolunteer@cox.net.

Any RSVPs or questions about connecting and volunteering with KFRC can be sent to kfvolunteer@cox.net

Our Friends at Denny's!

Thank you to Karla Piecuch and crew over at Denny's Restaurants! 

Karla came by this morning with a check for three hundred dollars and a bunch of new toys which will be used for our Summer Activity Kits and stored for next year's Winter Wonderland!

Toys were donated by loyal Denny's patrons and the money came from a contest to "like" Denny's on Facebook.

As she was leaving our center Karla asked us about the NEXT project they could help us out on with ANOTHER drive.... wow.  Thank you for all of your support Denny's!

Hungry?  How about dinner tonight at one of our Friends of Kyrene Foundation restaurants?



Denny's Restaurants

7400 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler -  I-10 & Chandler Blvd.

1750 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler - Dobson & Chandler Blvd.

1661 E. Warner Road., Gilbert - Val Vista & Warner Road



Cerritos Kids Care!

Cerritos Kids Care Club! 

144 Cerritos Students participated in Kids Care Club in the month of November. The students were able to complete 74 fleece blankets that were donated to Kyrene Family Resource Center’s Winter Wonderland.

Along with the blankets, Cerritos Kids paired books and cards to go with the age appropriate blankets. The Kids Care Club Teachers would like to thank Parents and PTO for their generous donations of fleece fabric and books for this huge undertaking by our elementary students.

Each month the group will focus on a different service project benefiting our community. 

What a WONDERFUL thing! 

Thank you Cerritos Kids!! YOU are making a difference!

Kyrene de los Cerritos Knows Fundraising can be FUN!

Cerritos kids were challenged to raise money for the Kyrene Family Resource Center and their reward was sweet!

If they raised over $100.00 then their principal and student advisor would wear custom made holiday jumpers to school.

Looks like Cerritos kids were up for the challenge!

Darcy DiCosmo, Principal and Sarah Collins, Student Advisor
Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary