City of Phoenix residents can participate in Healthy Giving

By Jim Marshall

City of Phoenix residents can participate in healthy giving this holiday season. The holiday season upon us and for many it will hectic and stressful. For others it will be lonely and confusing. This is especially true for the unsheltered and people experiencing homelessness.

What is Healthy Giving

Healthy Giving is a program that promotes responsible giving. The City of Phoenix wants their residents to give but to avoid arbitrary street donations and handouts. Instead, they’re encouraging people to give in a better, more proactive way. They want residents by volunteering with or donating to recognized non-profit establishments and community groups that support and assist those in need on a daily basis.

Generous Community

The City of Phoenix takes pride in the generosity of its residents. They are aware that the residents want to offer assistance and help especially during the holidays. Although people mean well when they give to someone on the street, the City of Phoenix wants everyone to know that when residents do this, the unsheltered may avoid seeking shelter and shy away from services and organizations that can provide more assistance and possibly help end their homelessness.

City of Phoenix residents can participate in “healthy giving” and, yes, donations are crucial and important. However, it is not just about what people are donating, but how people donate that really can and will make a difference.

How to Give in a Healthy Way

The City of Phoenix proposes several methods for this “healthy giving.” You can, for example, volunteer your time preparing and serving meals at a licensed and recognized community kitchen. This encourages safe, in-house dining instead of street feeding. Once an unsheltered person sees others like them in a community shelter, they see they’re not alone and tend speak up more about how they became homeless.

There are ways to donate. You can donate to local food banks with time or with nonperishable food items and bottled water. Other organizations are in need of toiletries, clothing—including under garments, socks, etc.—and blankets.

You can also make financial contributions to support professional outreach programs or organizations. These groups have personnel trained to work with individuals in crisis on the street.

Give Responsibly

The idea is not just to give, but to give responsibly. Residents can learn more about Healthy Giving and find ways to give responsibly this holiday season at www.givesmartaz.org. This website offers a list of nonprofits where residents can volunteer and/or donate. With this site the city hopes to not only boost giving but inform. They want to create a shift in giving methods to promote more lasting and effective charity throughout the holiday season and beyond. Though a momentary handout can help, it is best to give to the organizations who assist people experiencing homelessness on a daily basis—whether it be by volunteering or donation—you can have a long-term effect that stretches throughout the year.