Tempe Community Action Agency - June 2008 Charity-of-the-Month
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Tempe Community Action Agency
2150 East Orange Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
tel: (480) 350-5882
fax: (480) 350-5894
web: tempeaction.org
ABOUT US
Tempe Community Action Agency, Inc ("TCAA") is a nonprofit social service organization that helps families and individuals who are in need, from before birth to age 100+. The agency's mission is to empower our community members to address basic needs to live with dignity, self-reliance, and optimum health. More than 10,000 Tempe and South Scottsdale community members will be helped this year through the agency's programs.
PROGRAMS
Community Action Program (CAP)
The City of Tempe contracts with TCAA to provide basic needs and emergency help to working poor Tempe families, seniors, and the homeless in crisis with services to promote their self-sufficiency; including emergency food boxes, temporary lodging, rent and utility bill assistance, employment assistance, and case management.
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TCAA Food Bank
TCAA is contracted by the Maricopa County Human Services Dept. and the City of Tempe as the "Community Action Program."
TCAA assists children, seniors, homeless individuals and working-poor families in Tempe with emergency programs such as:
*Crisis Services-rent and/or utility assistance, food pantry, gas vouchers, vouchers for medical appointments and prescriptions, telephone assistance, weatherization
*Basic Needs-food boxes, hygiene kits, diapers, emergency shelter coordination. TCAA's food window is open everyday from 9AM-12PM.
*Service Coordination and Support-budgeting, life skills, self-sufficiency support and health services.
*Homeless Services-shelter, housing support, and life coaching/case management
*Health Start Program-crisis pregnancy support and prenatal education
*Health Clinic - the Escalante Health Clinic is a Academic Nursing Center of the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation and Tempe St. Lukes Hospital. The clinic is open on Monday's from 9:00 AM-5:00PM (closed for lunch from 12PM-1PM) and on Wednesday's from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM. Please call for an appointment at 480-350-5878.
Who do we Serve?
The majority of TCAA clients in poverty are children living with an employed single parent who has no health insurance and rents an apartment in Tempe.
Scheduling an Appointment for rent or utility assistance:
If you are a Tempe resident please call 480-350-5880. Appointments are made on Thursdays at 8AM for utility assistance and Fridays at 8AM for rent/mortgage assistance.
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Senior Action Program (SAP)
Tempe and South Scottsdale senior center programs, outreach, and home delivered meals for our community's seniors.
Home Delivered Meals:
TCAA delivers more than 200 meals per day to homebound seniors and disabled adults. To participate in the Home Delivered Meals program, please call the Senior Helpline at 602-264-HELP (4357). The program is always in need of volunteers, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities for more information.
Congregate Meals:
Join us for lunch! Hot lunches are served to active older adults and otherwise disabled adult residents in five community centers throughout Tempe and South Scottsdale. Fun socialization activities are also enjoyed at each Senior Center.
“All the meals are delicious, supplying a great variety of attractive lunch delivered to me by a very friendly person who goes out of his way to be helpful and understanding. It is a privilege and a luxury, enabling me to remain in my own home. Thank you!” - Nancy J., Home Delivered Meal Client
For more information about Senior Services, contact 480/350-5871. To make a reservation for lunch, contact the Community locations below:
Escalante Senior Center:
2150 E. Orange St., Tempe
Contact: Pam O'Hara - 480-350-5872
North Tempe Senior Center:
1555 N. Bridalwreath, Tempe
Contact: Kathy Flores - 480-858-6510
Pyle Adult Center:
655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
Contact: Aileen Schmieder - 480-350-5211
Cahill Senior Center:
715 W. 5th St., Tempe
Contact: Aileen Schmieder - 480-858-2420
Granite Reef Senior Center
1700 Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale
Contact: Barbara Johnson - 480-312-1724
Tempe Connections Cafe - Tempe Library. How do we make our city a better place to live, work and raise our families? By rolling up our sleeves and pitching in. That’s the goal of Tempe Connections – to encourage and enable 50+ adults to find meaning and purpose by helping out in the community.
Health Start - a program of the Arizona Department of Health Services
The Health Start Program utilizes lay health workers to provide education, support, and advocacy services to pregnant/postpartum women and their families. Families receive home visits and case management with oversight by nurses and social workers, through the enrolled child’s second year of life. For more information, contact Theresa Palma at 480-350-5873.
KidsCare Outreach/Love Your Kids
TCAA is a new outreach partner for Tempe! The contract, recently awarded to TCAA, will establish a full-time agency outreach position within TCAA. The agency outreach worker will collaborate with 23 public schools and child care organizations in Tempe zip codes, 85282 and 85283. The objective will be to identify eligible children and adolescents for program enrollment and assist parents with the application process.
Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) will begin enrolling low-income children in the Kids Care Health Insurance Program in February 2008. The contract, recently awarded to TCAA, will establish a full-time agency outreach position within TCAA. The agency outreach worker will collaborate with 23 public schools and child care organizations in Tempe zip codes, 85282 and 85283. The objective will be to identify eligible children and adolescents for program enrollment and assist parents with the application process. Enrollment services will also be provided, by appointment, at the Escalante Community Center located at 2150 East Orange Street, Tempe.
Healthcare costs for families are one of the root causes of poverty in our community. In 2006, 19% of Tempe residents lived in poverty. Fourteen percent (14%) of related children under the age of 18 were below the poverty level*. Nearly 24% of our customers seeking assistance for basic needs in the Community Action Program have no health insurance.
Kids Care is Arizona's health insurance for children under 19. Children age 18 and younger who qualify can receive medical, dental and vision services -- all three services combined in one simple plan. Services encompass most that would be incorporated under traditional health plans including; doctor's office visits, prescriptions and medical supplies, laboratory and X-ray services, shots, dental screening and treatment, and eye exams and corrective glasses.
For additional information on Kids Care AZ visit www.kidscare.state.az.us.
I-HELP
I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) is a collaborative effort of faith-based and community groups in Tempe to feed and shelter homeless individuals using facilities and volunteers of faith communities teamed with local social service agencies. Tempe Community Action Agency and Tempe First United Methodist Church have led this initiative, which is based on a successful program in Monterrey Bay, California. To date, 22 congregations are involved with I-HELP.
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Project Homeless Connect (PHC)
The goal of PHC is to bring together numerous service providers on one day in a single place so that homeless individuals and families can more easily access a wide array of assistance – a “one-stop shop” for the homeless which has taken place in more than 100 communities around the nation to date. On January 22, 2007, First United Methodist Church in Tempe was the site of the first PHC in Arizona with the involvement of 25 service providers and 40 community volunteers. There were 110 homeless individuals served. PHC will take place quarterly in Tempe, coordinated by a community-based team that includes the City of Tempe and Tempe Community Action Agency.
For more information, please go to the I-HELP web link.
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Volunteer Opportunities:
(1) Coordinate a food drive
TCAA can always use protein items for our food pantry. Protein Items include Peanut Butter, canned meats, soups and tuna. Water is especially needed for summer! Contact Monica to get started.
Recycle: we also need your paper or plastic grocery bags for the pantry.
(2) Volunteer for Senior Home Delivered Meals
Help frail elderly and the disabled in our community by delivering or packing a meal - you can create your own schedule! TCAA delivers more than 200 meals per day (Monday-Friday) out of the North Tempe Community Center to Tempe and South Scottsdale residents. Meal packing volunteers are especially needed on Friday mornings. This is a fun and rewarding experience for families (especially in the summer!) TCAA reimburses for mileage and you use your own vehicle.
Contact Mary for more information at 480-350-5886.
(3) Holiday Toy Shoppe
Holiday Toy Shoppe: In December , assist in picking up donations, organizing and managing distribution of holiday gifts for low income families in Tempe. Shifts are 2 to 3 hours, weekdays and evenings. Contact Monica
History
In 1966, TCAA started as “Operation Grassroots” as a food buying coop., tortilla factory, neighborhood credit union, post-office and community garden. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 1971, TCAA has been the community's primary social service organization, serving elderly and low income community members. The agency is governed by an Executive Director and a volunteer Board of Directors. TCAA is supported by grants, contracts and private contributors including Maricopa County Human Services Department, Area Agency on Aging Region One, the cities of Tempe and Scottsdale, Valley of the Sun United Way, Arizona Department of Health Services, foundations, corporations, and private citizens. The agency's small professional staff of fewer than 30 paid employees is assisted by over 250 community volunteers.
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Tempe Community Action Agency
2150 East Orange Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
tel: (480) 350-5882
fax: (480) 350-5894
web: tempeaction.org
