Volunteer opportunities?
Ahwatukee has you covered By Alison Stanton
T
hose who wish to give back to the community they call home have plenty of opportunities to do so in Ahwatukee. There are plenty of organizations, charities and social clubs in Ahwatukee that would be grateful for your time and help. From scouting and American Legion Post 64 — Ahwatukee’s only military service organization — to women’s and faith-based groups, and service and mentoring entities, residents have almost unlimited choices when it comes to finding like-minded people who live in their community. Many of these organizations post their meetings and activities in the Ahwatukee Foothills News as well as on various community-centric social media sites. Chances are, as well, that people who connect with one community organization likely will find leads to others. Among the oldest, most established organizations are the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, the Festival of Lights Committee, the American Legion Post 64 and the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee, which hosts the annual Easter Parade, one of Ahwatukee’s signature events. For more than two decades, the Festival of Lights Committee was responsible for the brilliant display of 1 million lights on the median of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway. To pay for those lights, it put on two of the biggest community events of the year: the Kick-Off Party, a family-friendly all-day festival held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the Wine and Beer Tasting Festival, a springtime, adults-only evening of fun, food and games. Recently, the Festival of Lights Committee passed the torch for setting up the lights to the Foothills
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS NEWCOMERS’ GUIDE
One million lights are displayed on the median of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway. (Submitted photo)
Community Association. But the FOL Committee will continue to be a charitable organization that helps develop events to pay for the lights as well as other charitable activities in Ahwatukee. The chamber offers business owners an opportunity to meet other business owners with a stake in the community. There also are two BNI groups for business owners and professionals. The Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA’s Outreach Program for Ahwatukee Seniors, commonly called Y OPAS, offers help to seniors who can’t get around on their own and is a wonderful opportunity for people who want to volunteer a few hours
a week to help them. Its signature service is transporting seniors in the community to medical appointments, for grocery shopping and even small social occasions. Volunteers can devote as much time as they want to driving these seniors around — and making new friends. Broader charitable groups abound, such as the 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun. Chances to make new friends are also plentiful, with groups like the Ahwatukee Republican Women and Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors. You only have to reach out, and there’s someone in Ahwatukee ready to extend a hand in friendship and camaraderie.
