ASA Now Save the Date Events
Mark your calendar for our upcoming events!
MONTHLY FAMILY SOCIAL
Join us for our Monthly Family Event which includes potlucks, swim parties, barbeques, movie nights and game nights. These events are held in our community as a means to provide wholesome family recreation, and allow parents and children to connect with others who understand their situations and experiences furthering their sense of community.
Birthday Celebration:
For a caregiver who has a foster child(ren) with birthdays in the current month of the family social, ASA Now will be celebrating them with a birthday party at this event. We will be providing them with gifts and a personalized cake (a 10 day notice is required for a personalized cake).
Registration includes lunch, dessert and activities
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! All ages welcome.
SANTA'S HELPERS NEEDED
Join us at our "North Pole" to wrap presents . With more than 600 gifts to wrap, we need your help to get it all done. Wrapping takes place over two weeks with multiple shifts. Sign up for one or more shifts and be sure to sign up with as many "elf" helpers as you will have. "Elf" volunteers are encouraged to join us to sort through toy donations, pull Christmas order requests and wrap presents for children impacted by trauma.
Every child and youth we adopt will receive:
Age Appropriate Toy
Blanket
Book
Stuffed Animal
Pajamas
This is a great way to get the whole family involved in the spirit of giving. This an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! All ages welcome.
We Need Volunteers!
CHILDCARE WORKSHOP VOLUNTEER
Please consider volunteering for one and a half hours of your time to help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of the caregivers and children we serve.
These workshops are part of our caregiver series designed to strengthen families and empower caregivers to engage authentically and effectively with at-risk children, all while prioritizing self-care in a safe and nurturing environment.
Mature teens and adults are encouraged to volunteer to provide childcare for this event.
These events occur monthly and include dinner for all volunteers.
Note: You can volunteer to supervise children (mature teens and adults), organize activities, or assist with serving food (all ages welcome).
This is an excellent opportunity for youth groups, date nights, family activities, or business service.
VOLUNTEER - HELP US MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Despite the growing concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), meeting basic needs remains our top priority.
We continue to serve families during scheduled event times or by appointment only. All donated items provided and distributed to caregivers are handled using appropriate social distancing, sanitation and hygiene guidelines.
Adults and mature teens are welcome to volunteer.
Volunteers Needed:
Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. Volunteer for one or more hours.
Priority is as follows:
- Sort and put away donations
- Prepare Food Boxes
- Emergency Clothing Request
- Fill Birthday box request
- Assist with cleaning tasks
THANKSGIVING FEAST FOR FOSTER YOUTH
At ASA Now, we believe that every child should experience the warmth and joy of Thanksgiving, and this year, we're hosting our 6th annual Thanksgiving Feast for youth in group homes at Chateau de Vie.
We want to ensure that every child, no matter their circumstances, can savor a delicious Thanksgiving meal surrounded by love and laughter. And what's a Thanksgiving meal without a turkey?
We're expecting 300 youth to attend this heartwarming event, and we invite you to be a part of this incredible experience. This event isn't just about providing a meal; it's about creating cherished memories and spreading kindness during the holiday season.
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! Mature teens and adults welcome to help serve dinner.
Want to serve in other ways? We want to hear from anyone willing to donate their time and talents to our cause:
WINTER WONDERLAND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED.
For many foster children, Christmas is a reminder that they are separated from their parents, siblings and family. It is a time of high anxiety, triggers and trauma as they face the realization that they will not be "home for the holidays." ASA Now recognizes and understands the financial hardship and the added strain that foster and kinship families face during the holidays.
For foster families facing financial difficulties, ASA Now provides gifts for the entire family. We provide families with the opportunity and time to focus on the children in their care by hosting and Enchanted Christmas Holiday Celebration. This event gives foster and adoptive children the chance to meet Santa, enjoy refreshments, games, crafts and holiday-themed activities. Families also have the opportunity to receive a professional family photo as well as a photo with Santa.
Our event lifts children's spirits during a difficult time of the year when they miss their families most. It helps lessen feeling of isolation and loneliness in foster children by giving them an opportunity to spend time with other children in foster care and most importantly, it allows children in foster care who are living in separate homes the chance to reunite with their sibling for a fun-filled holiday celebration. ASA Now welcomes our community to volunteer at this event.
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! All ages welcome.
Volunteer Opportunity:
If you have a large group willing to volunteer to help us wrap and/or drop off Christmas Presents Collection boxes at businesses or help us sort through donations, sign up through links below or call us at 623-428-1592.
Volunteer Opportunity:
If you have a large group willing to volunteer to help us sort presents and pajamas, wrap presents, and/or put Christmas wish lists together please reach out to us at 623-428-1592.
BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK DRIVE & VOLUNTEERS
ASA Now invites individuals, youth groups, businesses, and families to host a Backpack Drive and assist with our upcoming Back to School Backpack Giveaway event! Last year alone we distributed over 300 backpacks.
What We Need:
Backpacks: Equip a child for the upcoming school year.
$20 Walmart Gift Cards: Enable foster children to purchase new shoes.
Barbers and Hair Stylists: Provide haircuts for children and youth in foster care.
Volunteers: Offer your time and energy to ensure the event's success. Adults and mature teens are welcome to volunteer for our back-to-school event. Sign up for one or more hours.
Drop off all donated items by Friday, June 27th, at ASA Now – Jacob’s Mission Community Center, 7830 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85207
Your contribution will directly impact the lives of children and youth in foster care, providing them with the resources they need to excel academically and socially. Thank you for being a part of this meaningful initiative!
HELP US FILL IMMEDIATE NEEDS CHRISTMAS ORDERS
For many foster children, Christmas is a reminder that they are separated from their parents, siblings and family. Especially for those who are removed weeks or days before Christmas. It is a time of high anxiety, triggers and trauma as they face the realization that they will not be "home for the holidays." ASA Now recognizes and understands the financial hardship and the added strain that foster and kinship families face during the holidays.
For foster families facing financial difficulties, ASA Now provides emergency Christmas gifts through Christmas Day. We provide families with the opportunity and time to focus on the children in their care.
Sign up to serve for one or more hours to fill emergency Christmas Toys requests.
HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE - GIVING CHILDREN HOPE TOY DRIVE
Give hope this Christmas by donating a Gift Card, New Toys, Pajamas, Medium to Large Sized Stuffed Animals, Blankets and/or Books to a child in need! ASA Now will be providing Christmas presents during our Holiday Party to hundreds of children in attendance.
We will continue to take in toy donations throughout the month of December to fill the immediate needs requests of holiday presents for children who were just removed from their home. On average 20-25 children are removed from their home daily. For many of these children and youth, these will be the only gifts that they will receive this Christmas. We want to serve both the kids and their caregivers so they don’t have to make a choice between Christmas presents or other basic necessities this Holiday season.
Collection Drives are encouraged at church, schools, neighborhoods, families, and businesses.
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! All ages welcome.
LIFE STARTS NOW - TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD PROGRAM
Jacob’s Mission Community Center holds a 3 hour workshop to provide guidance and tools to help teens and young adults transition to responsible, independent adulthood.
Topics covered include cooking skills and eating on a budget, obtaining vital health & medical records, obtaining a driver’s license or state ID, obtaining health insurance, college or post-secondary education plan, career development, resume writing, mock interviews, getting a job, paying or planning for taxes when employed, renting a room or apartment, buying a car, financial literacy, building and maintaining a personal budget, opening a bank account, relationship management, family planning, volunteering and giving back to your community, mental health and well-being, physical health and hygiene!
This event is occurs monthly on a Saturday from 9 am to Noon and lunch is included for all volunteers.
Note: You may volunteer to assist with our service project, workshop, cooking or volunteer for all three hours.
Adults are welcome to volunteer!
LIFE STARTS NOW - YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Jacob’s Mission Community Center is looking for mentors for youth experiencing foster care.
ASA Now is committed to helping current and former foster youth live successfully. These young adults are fighting to beat the odds (see statistics above). Mentoring is an opportunity for you to develop a long-term, one-on-one relationship with a youth who is in need of a role model, friend and caring adult.
Mentors will be paired with youth ages 14-18 interested in getting a driver’s license, college or post-secondary education plan, getting a job, rent a room or apartment, buy a car, build and maintain a personal budget, paying or planning for taxes when employed, family planning (I want to be a mom or dad), plan a trip, vacation or experience, health and fitness, mental health and well-being, any personal achievement. Thank you for helping serve this population in a meaningful and impactful way.
Minimum age for a mentor is 19. Mentors are expected to spend approximately one to three hours per month with their assigned youth for at least nine months.
Note: You may mentor them in-person or virtually. We encourage mentors to attend our monthly life skills workshop when possible.
Adults are welcome to volunteer!
COSTUME DRIVE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY FOSTER CARE
Help make Halloween extra special for some of the 14,000 children and youth in care. Gem's Dress Up Closet is collecting new and gently used Halloween costumes to distribute to children affected by foster care during our annual Trunk or Treat event. Take this opportunity to either purchase a new costume or clean out your closets and make a child’s Halloween memorable! Please coordinate the drop-off of items with Leila Woodard or purchase through Amazon, and your donation will be sent to her.
Costumes will be distributed during our Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 20th. We encourage you, your child, or your family to donate costumes and/or accessories by Saturday, October 14th.
We also encourage collection drives at churches, schools, neighborhoods, among families, and in businesses.
This is an excellent opportunity for youth groups, date nights, family activities, or business service projects!
ASA Now Volunteer Opportunities
There are 14,000 children currently in foster care in Arizona. We’ve seen their faces, we’ve seen their potential, we’ve seen their hope, and we’ve seen them thrive. As citizens who love Arizona, we have a duty to serve these precious children. We have the rare opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives. The future here is bright, and we invite our community members to join us by volunteering and becoming involved by helping make an impact in the lives of our most vulnerable population.
TRUNK OR TREAT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Join us at ASA Now's 6th Annual Trunk or Treat event on Sunday October 27th from 3 pm to 5 pm. Our annual Halloween party is one of our monthly events during the year that some foster children are able to see their siblings. This year we are partnering with and having our event at Central Christian Church in Mesa.
Volunteers dressed to impress will welcome the children and their caregivers. Decorations, balloons, fun stations, clowns, magicians, fortune-tellers, puppeteers, apple bobbers, treats, therapeutic animals and a cake walk are all welcome as highlights of the evening entertainment. Volunteers are encouraged to dress up, help run a fun booth or craft, serve food and help us host a spook-tacular trunk or treat event.
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity! All ages welcome.
VOLUNTEER FOR PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
Please consider volunteering one to three and a half hours of your time to help us make meaningful impact in the lives of the children we serve.
Many children coming through the foster care system have special physical, mental health and developmental needs. Many of these children have suffered varying degrees of trauma, neglect and abuse which often manifests as challenging and extreme behaviors requiring above-average attention.
Caring for children impacted by foster care on a daily basis can be very stressful and difficult for foster and adoptive parents. This ultimately takes a toll on the family as a whole. Our community center provides a much needed break for exhausted foster and adoptive parents while still meeting the special needs of the children. This intervention provides parents with an opportunity to recharge, prevent burn-out, stabilize the whole family, and ultimately result in fewer foster and adoptive disruptions.
This event occurs monthly on a Saturday from 4 pm to 7 pm and includes dinner for all volunteers.
Note: You may volunteer to supervise children (mature teens and adults), run an activity or serve food (all ages welcome).
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity!
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Providing food is a powerful way to help children feel safe and cared for and helps to offset the grocery bill for caregivers. Whether funds are tight or this brings the opportunity to help caregivers take the children in their care to a special event or to purchase an item they typically would not purchase for themselves, our mission is to be here to support our village.
For children who have experienced food insecurity or trauma, healing the trauma and anxiety around food is key to helping children learn to eat in a variety of foods in ways and amount that support health and well-being. ASA Now is able to provide Kinship, Foster & Adoptive Caregivers who care for children currently placed in foster care and those who have adopted children who previously were involved in the child welfare system with a Mission Box.
These boxes are filled with perishable food items such as: bread, milk, meat, fresh produce, frozen food and baked goods from Trader Joes, Safeway, Midwest Food Bank, and Panera Bread.
This event occurs bi-weekly Thursday's from 10 am to 3:00 pm. Volunteer to serve one or more hours.
This is an excellent youth group, date night, family activity or business service opportunity!
VOLUNTEER AFTER SCHOOL
Please consider volunteering an hour of your time to help us make meaningful impact in the lives of the children we serve.
Tutoring - Foster children drop out of school at twice the rate of other children. Researchers attribute the greater risk to repeated transfers where valuable credits, school records, and social networks are lost and where curriculum differs. Foster children are also estimated to lose approx. 6 months of emotional development with each new placement furthering their challenges in a new classroom. The community center offers small group and individual tutoring to help keep our children successful in the classroom and on track to graduate.
Extra Curricular Activities - We help our foster and adoptive children reach their fullest potential by helping them discover and develop their talents. We offer activities in the community center like karate, dance, art , cooking, yoga, guitar, piano and musical theater which build confidence, create self discipline, provide coping skills and foster a sense of belonging. These opportunities allow our children to pursue their dreams and set goals.
Note: Volunteers will be required to attend an orientation and trauma training prior to volunteering. We will provide this free training.
Monday through Thursday from 3 pm to 8 pm. Volunteer for one or more hours.
Adults and mature teens are welcome to volunteer!