best place to donate time/help out Thanksgiving (Phoenix: live, activity)

[Alexico]

My employer has a relationship with United Way (valley of the sun) so I normally check there when I am looking to help out/volunteer my time but I didn't see anything.

anyone have any good suggestions on volunteering this year for Thanksgiving?

thanks

[Kimballette]

Do you mean serving meals on Thanksgiving, specifically, or donating, etc.? The Salvation Army is always overwhelmed with volunteers for Thanksgiving - it's a wildly popular charity activity. You might check with Phoenix Rescue Mission, Andre House, etc.

Here are some other ideas: Where to Volunteer in Phoenix for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays

[DetroitN8V]

The Salvation Army is in fact an Evangelical church. Just realize what you're getting into before deciding to give them your time.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

The Salvation Army is in fact an Evangelical church. Just realize what you're getting into before deciding to give them your time.

While that is technically accurate, I can tell you that I worked at a divisional headquarters for 3.5 years as a half-Jewish, totally agnostic, sexually active single woman. Not once was I approached by anything or anyone that I would classify as proselytizing. I was invited to join in the weekly church services, but never looked down on or hassled when I respectfully demured. I attended lunches and meetings that began and sometimes ended with a Christian oriented prayer, but I never did anything but sit quietly while others bowed their heads. And (with the single exception of one person) I was treated with more respect and kindness at that job than any other position I held before or since.

As the accounting manager, I had signing privileges over a checking account that regularly showed a balance of millions. I can assure you that those folks know how to make every penny count and watch it carefully.

I'm still a half-Jewish, fully agnostic woman. And I still donate money to The Salvation Army (as well as other organizations).

[Julie4530]

I volunteered for the Salvation Army for their dinner a couple of years ago. Though they do great work, the place was overflowing with volunteers and they did not seem very well organized. Many volunteers were just standing around waiting for something to do, or someone to let them know what needed to be done. Just my experience.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

While that is technically accurate, I can tell you that I worked at a divisional headquarters for 3.5 years as a half-Jewish, totally agnostic, sexually active single woman. Not once was I approached by anything or anyone that I would classify as proselytizing. I was invited to join in the weekly church services, but never looked down on or hassled when I respectfully demured. I attended lunches and meetings that began and sometimes ended with a Christian oriented prayer, but I never did anything but sit quietly while others bowed their heads. And (with the single exception of one person) I was treated with more respect and kindness at that job than any other position I held before or since.

As the accounting manager, I had signing privileges over a checking account that regularly showed a balance of millions. I can assure you that those folks know how to make every penny count and watch it carefully.

I'm still a half-Jewish, fully agnostic woman. And I still donate money to The Salvation Army (as well as other organizations).

That's good. I just don't care for the fact that they pick and choose who they are willing to help based on "biblical values". I've seen numerous sources describe their unwillingness to provide assistance to gay people. Not everyone knows what the Salvation Army is all about and thought a heads up would be in order.

[Voebe]

You know, apart from serving meals and such, it would be a very nice time to visit people stuck in VA hospitals.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

That's good. I just don't care for the fact that they pick and choose who they are willing to help based on "biblical values". I've seen numerous sources describe their unwillingness to provide assistance to gay people. Not everyone knows what the Salvation Army is all about and thought a heads up would be in order.

I have NEVER seen that personally. In fact, TSA was started a FREE HIV/AIDS clinic in Los Angeles (I personally know the officer who was an RN who started the project in the very early 90's). And at the headquarters where I worked in the early 1990's, we had one employee who was gay. (Though I admit, the benefit program did not extended to unmarried partners whether they were married or not.)

Truthfully, I experienced WAY more prejudice when I interviewed for jobs at Black Children and Family Services and Catholic Charities. (And don't get me started on Goodwill - that's a whole 'nother set of issues.)

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Voebe

You know, apart from serving meals and such, it would be a very nice time to visit people stuck in VA hospitals.

Excellent suggestion! Another similar idea is to spend some time visiting at a convalescent home. There are so many elderly people without family or friends, who are simply warehoused. It would truly brighten their lives to have visitors, even for a brief time.