Community Partners List

Service-Learning Community Partner Bios
A growing network of service opportunities

Below you will find a list of volunteer opportunities at specific community agencies that may help you with your Service-Learning needs. These are only part of a much larger list that is available in the Service-Learning Office (SC108). We would love to hear about any ideas or programs that you would like to participate in. To do so or to simply learn more contact Alison Whiting.

STUDENTS: First and foremost, in thinking about these agencies, be sure to check with your faculty member to make sure it fits your assignment.

CHANDLER AGENCIES

Chandler-Gilbert ARC
Chandler-Gilbert Arc is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing training and support to adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. We offer Residential, Employment, Day Treatment and Training opportunities to approximately 200 individuals of varying levels of disability daily.

For more information please contact the volunteer coordinator, Mike Lins, by phone at (480) 892-9422 or by email at chelvoigt2@cgarc.org

Boys and Girls Club - Chandler Branch
With over 4.8 Million boys and girls serves, the Boys and Girls Club continues to be a positive place for kids. Staff at the Boys and Girls Club is committed to keeping the youth dedicated facilities open daily and the club services affordable for all youth. The Boys and Girls Club offers a variety of volunteer placements. These placements can range from teaching basketball or dance to helping with a discovery lab or after school program.

For more information about volunteer opportunities place contact Mindy Elias at (480) 899 8302, mindye@clubarizona.org

The Chandler Christian Community Center
The Chandler Christian Community Center was organized in 1966 for the purpose of providing assistance to those who were in need. The center has provided emergency food to the needy of this community. The numbers have increased dramatically over the years. Today it remains the largest charitable Food Bank organization in the community, providing food to the low income and homeless in the area. The CCCC has recently added a Family Resource Center.

For information about our volunteer opportunities or to apply for our volunteer opportunities, please contact Jaque Kelley at 480-963-1423

Chandler Senior Center

The Chandler Senior Center provides a variety of activities, programs, and events for senior adults. located in downtown Chandler, the center hosts classes, supplies meals, and works to keep senior community agile.

For more Information please contact Loretta Colson, the center's volunteer Coordinator, by phone at: (480) 782-2720 or by email at loretta.colson@chandleraz.gov

Desert Cove Nursing Center
Desert Cove Nursing Center offers superior skilled nursing care for both post-acute rehabilitation and long term care. The longevity of Desert Cove as a premier care center speaks for itself; serving residents of Chandler and surrounding communities for over twenty-five years. Additionally, there are several hospitals within minutes from the facility for any possible acute care needs.
TB test is required and provided free of cost.

For more information and volunteer opportunities contact Peg Shermer by phone 480-899-0641or by email margaret_shermer@lcca.com

East Valley Jewish Community Center
Through services and programs the East Valley JCC promotes and strengthens Jewish values and identity by meeting the needs of individuals and families of all races, religions and cultures.

For volunteer opportunities contact Hadassah at 480-897-0588 or hadassah@evjcc.org

ICAN
ICAN (Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods) empowers youth in the Chandler neighborhoods to be productive, self-confident, responsible, and leading citizens. By providing free, all-inclusive out of school programs for youth ICAN keeps kids off the streets- steering them away from drugs and violent behavior.

If you have any questions or would like more information on volunteering please contact Marisa, by phone (480) 821-4207 or email marisa@icanaz.org

Light Feet Project
Light Feet Project exists to show God’s love to others by providing quality, supportive shoes to communities in need. By providing shoes to those in need around the world, we aim to reduce disease, increase productivity, and share God’s joy. By impacting communities in this way, we hope to see these communities impact other communities nearby.

For more information and volunteer opportunities please contact Jillian Waln by phone 602-403-7568 or email jillian.waln@lightfeetproject.org

Park Regency
Park Regency, located in Chandler, Arizona is a unique full-service retirement communtiy offering Independent Living, Personalized Assisted Living, Alzheimer's and Dementia Care and Skilled Nursing options for seniors.

For more information about volunteer opportunities please contact Aly Campbell by phone 480-345-7171 ext 3228 or email acampbell1@brookdaleliving.com

Si Se Puede
The Si Se Puede Foundation was founded in 1993 to advocate non-violent conflict resolution amongst all youth by increasing positive behaviors and by encouraging parental involvement in the lives of their children. The foundation focuses on educational programming, community activities and advocacy, and recreational activities for youth. Si Se Puede is based in Chandler.

For more information please contact Alberto Esparza, founder and President, by phone at (480) 812-1693 or by email at als1723@aol.com

YMCA
The YMCA encourages the success of children and adults of all ages, races, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels through a variety of programs and opportunities. The YMCA functions as a community center by meeting needs in areas such as exercise, education, awareness, etc.

For more information please contact Steve Hewitt by phone at (602) 212-6102 or by email at shewitt@vosymca.org

GILBERT AGENCIES

Boys and Girls Club - Gilbert Branch
With over 4.8 Million boys and girls served, the Boys and Girls Club continues to be a positive place for kids. Staff at the Boys and Girls Club are committed to keeping the youth dedicated facilities open daily and the club services affordable for all youth. The Boys and Girls Club offers a variety of volunteer placements. These placements can range from teaching basketball or dance to helping with a discovery lab or after school program.

For more information about volunteer opportunities please contact Sandi Dial (480) 813-2020 or sandid@clubzona.org

Riparian Institute
The 110-acre Riparian Institute is a non-profit organization formed by the Town of Gilbert to develop and promote the Riparian Preserve project. The institute strives to be recognized as a premiere education and recreation resource in Arizona while, preserving valuable natural resources, supporting creation and conservation of scarce riparian areas and protecting needed habitat for wildlife.

For more information contact the volunteer coordinator, Jennie Rambo, by phone at (480)797-2019 or by email at Jlrambo@hotmail.com

Gilbert Historical Museum
Since 1960, the Gilbert Historical Museum has been enlightening the community on the rich history of Gilbert. Their motto is, "Explore the Past, Experience the Present, Imagine the Future". The museum is dependent on volunteers to keep the past alive. There are numerous individual and group placement positions available.

For more information please contact Kayla Kolar, the Museum's executive director, by phone at (480) 926-1577 or by email at kolaraz@msn.com

Gilbert Senior Center
The Gilbert Senior Center offers an array of activities, programs, and events for active adults. Seniors are hosted in the new Gilbert Community Center near downtown Gilbert.

For more information please contact Kriz Balzan, the center's volunteer coordinator, by phone at (480) 503-6060 or by email at kbalzan@csainc.org

OTHER AGENCIES

CARE Partnership
CARE Partnership, located in Mesa, brings together community assets, resources, and skills to improve the condition of people's lives. This grassroots organization provides numerous opportunities for volunteers and is always open to creating new options for faculty and students.

CARE was started in a backyard and now through a wide range of comprehensive programs, CARE works to build up the community and empower its members. Emergency, dental, and pediatric clinics are some of the many medical services offered. Also, programs encompassing topics like economics, leadership, education, emotional wellness, etc. are available to the community through CARE.

For more information please contact Bev Tittle Baker by phone (480) 833-8987 or email bevtbaker@aol.com

House of Refuge East
House of Refuge East assists homeless families and individuals by providing transitional housing and supportive services for participants as they strive toward self-sufficiency and seek to attain permanent housing.

For more information please contact Theresa, Volunteer Coordinator, by phone (480) 988-9395 or email at theresa@houseofrefuge.org

Maggie's Place
Maggie's Place provides housing for pregnant women that are alone or on the streets, encouraging them to promote positive social change and personal growth.

For more information contact the Volunteer Coordinator by phone at (420) 491-0446 or by email at tempe.volunteers@maggiesplace.org

My Sister's Place
My Sister's Place offers physical and emotional support for women who are victims of domestic violence, The shelter provides them, and often their children, a place to live, eat, and learn while giving the man opportunity to get back on their feet. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age.

For more information please contact Peggy Dudinyak by phone at (480) 821-1024 or by email at mdudinyak@cc-az.org

Paz de Cristo
Since 1988, Paz de Cristo has been providing food and resources to the homeless and hungry. Paz provides daily meals, food boxes, and empowerment programs to people in the East Valley. Quarterly sign-ups start in January, April, July and October. Please sign up at the beginning of the quarter. The main service opportunities at Paz are preparing food boxes and assisting with the daily meal service. Both are incredible ways to assist the needy in the community. Students can call to individually schedule hours or a group(s) can arrange a special project or service day.

For more information visit Paz de Cristo's website and contact Christine Oliviero, Volunteer Coordinator, by phone (480) 464-2370 or email pazchristineo@qwestoffice.net

Save the Family
The average age of a homeless person in the United States is only nine years old. Save the Family, founded in 1988, is devoted to assisting homeless families break the cycles of poverty, abuse, and homelessness. Save the Family's holistic approach is centered on helping homeless families achieve self-sufficiency, thus decreasing their dependency on governmental support. Save the Family has a variety of remarkable volunteer opportunities. Tutoring, Classroom Assistance, Donation Center, Read 2 Me, or Special Project volunteers are always appreciated. Flexible hours among the many volunteer positions are available. Fingerprinting will be required in some situations.

For more information contact Nikki Hicks, volunteer manager, by phone (480) 898-0228 EXT 201 or by email nikkih@savethefamily.org

Sunshine Acres
In 1954, James and Vera Dingham dedicated their lives to caring and meeting the needs of homeless children. Now, more than fifty years later, their dedication continues to be the inspiration behind Sunshine Acres. Currently, the staff at Sunshine Acres houses and loving cares for around seventy children.

For more information please contact Zelda Fortner, the center's volunteer coordinator, by phone at: (480) 832-2540 or by email at: volunteer@sunshineacres.org

United Food Bank
Over 30% of people living in Arizona are considered, by federal guidelines, to be working poor. And about half of those people are living in constant poverty. The United Food Bank seeks to serve these people by providing nutritious food. This service includes collecting, storing, and distributing food through a network of social service agencies to place the food in the hands of those who need it most.

If you have any questions or would like more information on how to get involved, please contact DeAnna Yazzie, the bank's volunteer coordinator, by phone at: (480) 926-4897 Ext. 218 or by email at: dyazzie@unitedfoodbank.org