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DES Colleagues Give Big During Holiday Season

Do you feel like we do? How can it be January already?! The holidays came and went with dizzying speed, and it seems like they go by faster and faster each year!

DES is an agency of “givers.” No matter the need, our colleagues always rise to the occasion! Never before have we met so many people who give of themselves, in so many different ways. We’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the great events that took place within our agency during the holiday season.

  • Family Assistance Administration Crazy Sock Day
    While Thanksgiving typically serves as the beginning the holiday season, some events actually began in early November. The Family Assistance Administration (FAA) Southern region office kicked off its season of giving with a Sock Drive on November 6th. Crazy Sock Day resulted in 271 pairs of socks being donated to the Gospel Rescue Mission and the Good Neighbor Alliance Shelter in Sierra Vista.
  • Family Assistance Administration Sock Drive
    While Thanksgiving typically serves as the beginning the holiday season, some events actually began in early November. The Family Assistance Administration (FAA) Southern region office kicked off its season of giving with a Sock Drive on November 6th. Crazy Sock Day resulted in 271 pairs of socks being donated to the Gospel Rescue Mission and the Good Neighbor Alliance Shelter in Sierra Vista.
  • Division of Developmental Disabilties Canned Food Christmas Tree
    The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) District South Region has held a food drive display for the past five years. “Teams get together and collaborate on a design; people purchase food items on their own time and then use breaks to assemble the displays,” said Ron Bourgault, Support Coordinator for the Southern Region. “Angie Ortiz was the originator of this contest and still spearheads the annual competition.”
  • Division of Developmental Disabilties Food Drive Grinch
    The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) District South Region has held a food drive display for the past five years. “Teams get together and collaborate on a design; people purchase food items on their own time and then use breaks to assemble the displays,” said Ron Bourgault, Support Coordinator for the Southern Region. “Angie Ortiz was the originator of this contest and still spearheads the annual competition.”
  • Division of Developmental Disabilties Food Drive Display
    The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) District South Region has held a food drive display for the past five years. “Teams get together and collaborate on a design; people purchase food items on their own time and then use breaks to assemble the displays,” said Ron Bourgault, Support Coordinator for the Southern Region. “Angie Ortiz was the originator of this contest and still spearheads the annual competition.”
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities Food Drive Pallets 1
    All in all, four pallets, totaling 2,574 pounds of food, were donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities Food Drive Pallets 2
    All in all, four pallets, totaling 2,574 pounds of food, were donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
  • DCSS Gift Bags 2
    The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) office on Alvernon Way in Tucson wanted to lift the spirits of the children who, after being removed from their homes, are brought to the office by Department of Child Safety (DCS) colleagues. DCSS colleagues raised money to purchase small items that were placed in holiday gift bags and given to the children in the Madera Welcome Center. What a wonderful example of cross-agency giving and support!
  • DCSS Gift Bags 1
    The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) office on Alvernon Way in Tucson wanted to lift the spirits of the children who, after being removed from their homes, are brought to the office by Department of Child Safety (DCS) colleagues. DCSS colleagues raised money to purchase small items that were placed in holiday gift bags and given to the children in the Madera Welcome Center. What a wonderful example of cross-agency giving and support!
  • Family Assistance Administration, Aging & Adult Services turkey drive for St. Mary's Food Bank
    Several of our colleagues from the FAA Southern Region office volunteered at the St. Mary’s Food Bank in early December, and the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) held its 19th Annual Turkey Drive where staff collected 19 turkeys, 320 lbs. of food and $650 in cash/checks for St. Mary’s Food Bank.
  • Aging & Adult Services, Girl Scouts go to VA hospital 1
    One of our DAAS colleagues took her Girl Scout troop to visit a special group of people at the VA hospital in Tucson. “I saw the impact that the girls made when I saw the veterans full of smiles, singing along to the songs, and make connections with the girls,” said Julie Duncan, Human Services Unit Supervisor. “The girls wanted to show their appreciation for those that were willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. I am so full of pride!”
  • Aging & Adult Services, Girl Scouts go to VA hospital 2
    One of our DAAS colleagues took her Girl Scout troop to visit a special group of people at the VA hospital in Tucson. “I saw the impact that the girls made when I saw the veterans full of smiles, singing along to the songs, and make connections with the girls,” said Julie Duncan, Human Services Unit Supervisor. “The girls wanted to show their appreciation for those that were willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. I am so full of pride!”
  • DBME donates to veterans at Camp Alpha in Phoenix
    A group from DBME also collected donations for a group of veterans living at Camp Alpha in Phoenix.
  • Employment & Rehabilitiation Services Secret Santa 1
    What originally started out as a service strictly to the veterans residing at the Gardens Rehab and Care Center in Kingman between the Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) and DCS, actually turned into an event which resulted in nearly all residents receiving a gift from our Secret Santas.
  • Employment & Rehabilitiation Services Secret Santa 2
    What originally started out as a service strictly to the veterans residing at the Gardens Rehab and Care Center in Kingman between the Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) and DCS, actually turned into an event which resulted in nearly all residents receiving a gift from our Secret Santas.
  • Benefits & Medical Eligibility Adopt-A-Family
    Across the agency, toy drives were held and several families were adopted for the holidays!
  • Toy drive
    Across the agency, toy drives were held and several families were adopted for the holidays!

The holidays are officially over, but our giving won’t stop there. Director Jeffries has challenged the agency to set personal goals, and with the New Year just under way, 2016 is shaping up to be one of the agency’s best years ever!

 

 

January 12, 2016
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