Arizona Helping Hands thanks Thunderbirds Charities for their $25,000 grant in support of our Helping Hands for Foster Kids (“HHFK”) program. This program provides beds, cribs, clothing, diapers and other essential needs to the over 16,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system.

HHFK was begun in 2013 and as the word has spread to caseworkers and foster parent groups, the growth in services has been phenomenal. 60 beds were provided to foster parents in 2013, over 500 were provided in 2014. The Thunderbird grant will help AHH continue to expand service to foster families who step up to care for these children.

“Children in foster care are frequently moved into new situations with nothing but the clothes on their back. To be able to provide assistance to these families truly does make a difference”, says Executive Director Dan Shufelt. He tells of a great grandmother (“GG”) who recently took in her 4 great grandchildren. AHH provided her with beds, clothing and toiletries to help ease the transition. “GG herself was orphaned at age 9 when her mother died. Despite the challenges and demands her 4, 7, 9 and 11 year old great grandchildren place on her, physically, emotionally and financially, GG feels the importance of keeping her family together and will do whatever is necessary to make that happen. How can we not step up to help GG and other’s efforts to provide a safe and loving environment for these children?”

Formed in 1998 to assist Arizona children and families, Arizona Helping Hands seeks to make lives better for all Arizonans, One Child, One Dream, One Family at a time.