For some community members, holidays can be a time of uncertainty. Our employees are showing what it means to care through giving efforts and festivities throughout Arizona, from organizing food and gift drives to sponsoring children’s shopping sprees and joining festive parades.
Here’s how we’re bringing cheer to our communities throughout Arizona this holiday season.
Flagstaff
Joyous and bright celebrations are infused in Flagstaff’s spirit.
Our employees plan to volunteer at Candy Cane Lane, a drive-through light exhibit that benefits the Shadows Foundation, on Dec. 6. The following weekend, employees and their vehicles will join the Holiday Parade of Lights on Dec. 13.
Mohave County
The holiday season began with compassion, as Kingman and Lake Havasu City employees supported animal welfare efforts. Donation drives for animal shelters were held at employee safety events in October.
In early November, volunteers served meals at local shelters.
Two initiatives will ensure that gifts will find their way under the tree. Both the Kingman and Lake Havasu City offices are holding drives for Toys for Tots. On Dec. 13, employees will help young people search for gifts and clothes during a Boys and Girls Club shopping event in Kingman.
Nogales
Nogales employees take pride in making sure community members, from students to seniors, are well fed for Thanksgiving.
UniSource encourages a friendly competition at Lincoln Elementary School between classrooms, whose students compete to bring in the most pounds of food. UniSource hosts pizza parties for the top three classrooms. Student Council officers walk the donations over to the Nogales Senior Citizen Center.
“This helps our community youth understand and practice the importance of giving back to the community, with a focus on the elderly,” said Norma Lucero, the Nogales Chair of the Community Action Team, the employee volunteer group.
Nogales’ Community Action Team also works with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona to prepare food boxes and distribute them to Nogales and Rio Rico schools, collaborating with the school liaisons to identify students in need of food boxes. Selected students are told that they won the food boxes in a raffle.
On Nov. 23, low-income children will be treated to a shopping day at JCPenney and Shoe Carnival, along with breakfast at Carl’s Jr. Participating students will also bring home toys and food boxes to their families. The project is a partnership with the Lions Club.
Prescott
UniSource employees are making an effort to collect the food and items needed for festive holidays for those in need.
Employees are holding a Thanksgiving food drive and collecting items for the Stepping Stones Safe Shelters. The shelters are requesting winter donations, especially household items, for the emergency shelter, which has 16 beds and cribs.
Employees plan on participating in the Prescott Valley Light Parade on Dec. 6, riding in dune buggies and carts adorned with festive lights and designs.
Show Low
UniSource employees help provide food, money and awareness for food insecurity annually through the Show Low Community Fast of Compassion in November.
Our company donates money to the cause, which provides funds to local organizations. Some employees also participate in the fast, which encourages participants to skip a meal and donate the cost of one or more meals to a local organization.
Verde Valley
Launching the season of giving, Cottonwood employees organized a Thanksgiving food drive, collecting donations for Old Town Mission from mid-October through mid-November.
Spreading holiday cheer, employees and company vehicles will walk and roll through the Camp Verde Christmas Parade on Dec. 13.
