Project HELP is gearing up for the holidays and needs your generous help! Donations are now being accepted for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Apache Junction Unified School District (AJUSD) developed Project HELP over 30 years ago to offer creative solutions to temporary, emergency situations for their students and families in times of need.
Project HELP is 100 percent supported by donations: financial, food, new and gently-used clothing, and household goods provided by churches, organizations, businesses, and individuals. Aid is distributed, as funds allow, based on need, as determined by the Project HELP coordinator.
Thanksgiving donations will be accepted Nov. 1 through Nov. 22 and Christmas donations will be accepted Nov. 1 through Dec. 6. Donation drop-offs will be accepted on Monday and Wednesday mornings, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Donations are accepted at AJUSD’s offices, 195 E. Superstition Blvd., in Apache Junction (located in the Pinal County complex).
Those who need to donate at other times or days can contact Rosie Portugal Brastad, Project HELP coordinator at (480) 288-2955. Individuals and/or groups with large quantities of donations are asked to please call ahead of time so Project HELP can prepare space and make arrangements to receive the items.
“While we do accept gently-used items at other times, we only give new items to our families for Christmas,” said Rosie. “We appreciate the support of local businesses, churches and individuals who help provide for our Project HELP families.”
Project HELP encourages families to become self-sufficient, in part by treating aid as a loan. Families repay these loans through service to their community. Families are responsible for finding their own community service and bringing in written documentation of their volunteer hours. It is strongly suggested that parents volunteer at their child’s school if possible.
Project HELP also serves as a resource for other services available to families within our community, and will make referrals whenever possible and appropriate.
For more information about Project Help, visit ajusd.org/domain/67, or call Rosie Portugal Brastad at (480) 288-2955.
AJUSD empowers students by providing them with the knowledge, skills and ingenuity to pursue their dreams and make a positive difference in the world.