The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at GCU chapter.

‘Tis the season for giving. Between baking cookies, attending Christmas parties, and trying to find the perfect gifts, it is easy for anyone to get carried away with everything going on during this season. But we must remember what the holidays are all about: being with family and giving back to one another. If you are looking for charities to donate your time or money to, here are (in no particular order) some local Arizona nonprofits to consider.

Keepers of the Wild Nature Park

Lions, tigers, bears, oh my! Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, located in Valentine, Arizona, is an exotic wildlife sanctuary that is home to over 140 abused and neglected animals. Its mission is to eliminate the use of wild animals as pets and their exploitation in show business through educating the public on animal abuse.

How can you help Keepers? By visiting and taking a tour around the park, sponsoring an animal, or setting Keepers as your designated charity on Amazon Smile, your donations can help make a difference in the lives of more abused wildlife.

Feed My Starving Children

At Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), they believe that nobody deserves to go hungry. As a Christian nonprofit, FMSC partners with food distribution centers that feed hope to the lives of millions of starving children worldwide.

FMSC is well-known amongst Arizona locals because of the fun volunteer opportunities available. For three hours, you can come and package meals and get them ready to be sent off to their destinations. However, for those who don’t have the time to volunteer, they also accept donations. Since every meal costs 25 cents, donating doesn’t have to be much.

ChildHelp

Headquartered in Phoenix, ChildHelp is a Christian nonprofit that saves children who are victims of child abuse. Since its founding in 1959, ChildHelp has saved over 11 million children across the United States. Their mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. They believe in the words, “All Who Enter Here Will Find Love.”

There are several ways to help ChildHelp. Their primary needs include donations. With as little as $10, you can help ensure a child has a place to go when they need it the most.

GCU CityServe

As a Christian university, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is compassionate about ministry outreach and helping the community as much as possible. Therefore, in 2021, GCU partnered with CityServe International to create a central distribution HUB for the state of Arizona. Together, the goal is to meet the needs of vulnerable families throughout the state while also assisting them toward long-term stability.

Since they are still brand new, if you are looking for ways to assist GCU CityServe in their warehouse, please get in touch with them at volunteercityserve@gcu.edu. If you would like to volunteer your time, one of the many jobs you would be responsible for is working inside the warehouse to sort out all the donations dropped off.

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

Founded in 1967, St. Mary’s Food Bank is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization in Phoenix. St. Mary’s is on a mission to help alleviate hunger and improve the quality of care for Arizonans all around the state.

Their website says that $10 can feed a family for a week. St. Mary’s is in most need of donations. However, if your finances are tight right now, don’t sweat. You can volunteer at the facility with family or friends or start your own food drive.