Food Drive
April 10th. 2010
Arizona Pain Foundation volunteered at the Desert Mission Food Bank. They worked in a warehouse putting together food boxes and meeting folks who came in for help.
Where: Desert Mission Food Bank www.jcl.com
9229 North 4th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020-2530
Why: One of five Arizonans is now seeking food assistance. We can greatly help by coordinating a food drive from March 1-April 10 and then volunteering to distribute this food at the food bank.
Items Donated for the food drive:
- Peanut butter
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Canned Ste ws
- Soup
- Canned Tuna and Salmon
- Powdered Milk
- Dried Canned Beans
- Oatmeal
- Breakfast Cereal
- Pasta
- Canned Fruits
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Soup
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Bar Soap
- Deodorant
- Toilet Paper
- Sanitary Napkins/Tampons
Thank you for your donations and support to your community.
Nogales, Arizona
2010
The Arizona Pain Foundation’s first event of 2010 was a great success. More than 25 volunteers traveled from the Phoenix area to Nogales, Arizona. The border town is like many others — plagued by poverty and illness. With the foundation’s mission in mind — to share the love of God by bringing compassion, healing and resources to those in need — the volunteers traveled to the border spend a day working with the poor at the Crossroads Nogales Rescue Mission. Volunteers were met by staff and mission helpers who quickly listed off a lengthy number of tasks they needed help with. These included preparing lunch for the 100-plus homeless and hungry folk they were expecting; removing a faulty air conditioning duct from a church ceiling, tiling 7 bathrooms, clearing a nearby field of refuse and providing medical services to the nearly 200 people who’d heard of the group’s arrival. Volunteers broke into teams accordingly and went to work. Dr. McJunkin and Dr. Som saw more than 170 patients — all who had been tested for blood pressure and glucose readings. The air condition duct was replaced. The bathroom tiling work was well underway. The lunch team prepared, served and cleaned up afterward. Volunteers also distributed toys and food items they’d brought for those at the mission. It was a truly successful event and meaningful for all who were involved.
Christmas Party for Refugee Children
December 13, 2010
Arizona Pain Foundation Bringing Smiles To Those Often Neglected
Arizona Pain Specialists, a local pain management clinic, will be hosting a Christmas party for refugee children at the Arizona Medical Clinic in Phoenix on Sunday, December 13, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event will provide food, games and gifts for an expected 100 refugee adults and 200 children.Donations of clothing, personal care items, blankets, toys and other much needed items will be accepted at both Arizona Pain Specialists offices through Thursday, December 10, 2009.
The Scottsdale Office is located at 9787 N. 91st St., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. The Glendale Office is located at 18555 N. 79th Ave, Suite E101, Glendale, AZ 85308.
Many of the children attending the event are refugees from Myanmar (formerly Burma). They fled the country when a military coup threatened not only their families’ livelihood but their lives as well. Now they are living in the US with few ties to our community. The Arizona Pain Foundation is holding this event to bring a little holiday cheer into the lives of these displaced children from half a world away. They would welcome volunteers to help make this day a special one for children who have had very little to smile about in the past few years.
Circus at the Sunshine Acres Children’s Home
November 14, 2009
The Arizona Pain Foundation will host a circus at the Sunshine Acres Children’s Home by partnering with the Circus School of Arizona. The Circus School of Arizona has donated their time and expertise to provide entertainment and aerial acrobatic instruction for the children. The Sunshine Acres Children’s Home has been a refuge for over 1600 homeless children since its creation over seventeen years ago. This is the latest in a series of charitable activities that are supported by the Arizona Pain Foundation.
The spirit of giving through community service is a core value of the medical care delivered by Arizona Pain Specialists. Arizona Pain Specialists created the Arizona Pain Foundation and started donations upon the receipt of the physician’s first paycheck in 2007, which immediately allowed for a trip to an orphanage in Sonoyta, Mexico. For more information on the event or to find out how you can participate, please contact Kevin George at 602-481-3996.
When: Saturday, November 14th, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Where: Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, East Valley
How can you help: Volunteers are needed on the day of the event, and in advanced.
Contact: Kevin George at 602-481-3996.
A Birthday Party for the Homeless: “Everybody deserves a Birthday Cake”
Once a year the Nogales Crossroads Mission throws a birthday party for the poor and homeless of Nogales, where those who normally don’t get a birthday party are celebrated. They are given cake and presents and sang happy birthday. It is a great experience to be a part of.
Nogales Mission
I went to visit the Crossroads Nogales Mission recently – researching possible locations for our medical outreach program. Located on the border of Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Sonora in Northern Mexico, this mission is incredible in its ability to meet the needs of so many with so little.
According to their website: http://www.crossroadnewlifecenter.org they fed over 35,000 individuals last year alone. This is all done within the walls of building that is over 90 yrs old, and with a staff of less than 5 people on most days. Started by Ben and Bert Wenke in 1995 they meet a host of community needs including the management of 4 shelters, 5 programs for men and women, a Domestic Violence Shelter for women and children, Holiday meals, Bible Clubs for children 5 times a year and a Community Lunch Program for the poor.
They also have a daily church service which is taught by different ministers every day from the community. They provide food, clothing, shelter, spiritual guidance, and protection for anyone who is in need and comes to their door. Ben Wenke was previously ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, but he states that was “many years ago in my previous life.” In 1995 God called him to Nogales where he lived in the mission with his wife Bert for the first 8 years they were in Nogales. Ben says “when you’re working with the poor and homeless you quickly lose any allegiance to one denomination or the other. It’s all about doing the work of God, not whether you’re Baptist or Methodist.” I can tell you after spending a day with this couple that God’s spirit moves in this mission and the work they are doing will last for eternity. If you feel led you can give donations directly on their website listed above. We are in discussions with the mission about how we can set up a medical and dental clinic within their mission in the future – so if you’d like to be involved with that just email us or call the clinic.
