Phoenix officials promote healthy giving campaign during holidays
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Officials at Phoenix City Hall are encouraging residents who want to help people experiencing homelessness to participate in Healthy Giving.
Healthy Giving, Phoenix officials say, promotes giving responsibly, by donating time or resources to established nonprofit and community organizations that provide services to people in need, instead of giving one-off donations on the street, according to a press release.
“We have such a generous community in Phoenix, and we know people want to help,” said Rachel Milne, who serves as director at the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions, in a prepared statement.
“People mean well when they give to someone who is unsheltered, but that often encourages them to stay outdoors and away from services that can help end their homelessness. By working with established service providers, it helps create connections that can change people’s lives.”
Jerome Park, Community Pastor at First Christian Church, echoes a similar sentiment.
“Healthy Giving is about giving a hand up, not a handout,” he said in the release. “We want to encourage the community to be part of the long-term solutions that have a lasting impact. These nonprofits don’t just connect people to resources; they provide human connections that can lead someone who is unsheltered to feel valued, understood, and worthy of a better life.”
Phoenix officials promote healthy giving campaign
Volunteer: Volunteer to prepare and serve meals at a licensed community kitchen to encourage safe, in-house dining instead of street feeding.
Donate: Provide local food banks with donations of nonperishable food, bottled water and toiletries to help the organization’s efforts.
Empower: Make financial contributions to support professional outreach teams trained to work with individuals in crisis on the street.
