The Foster Alliance, the non-profit previously known as Arizona Helping Hands, organizes one of the state’s largest toy drives, the Holiday Joy Drive. In 2022, the organization served 7,227 children in foster care and gave almost 40,000 presents. In 2023, there are over 15,000 children in Arizona experiencing foster care and The Foster Alliance’s goal is to provide gifts for each one.

“Toy drives are an opportunity for the community to join us as foster allies,” shared Bethany Eggleston, Vice President of Development and Marketing. “Together, we can show every single foster child that they matter, are special, and they are not forgotten.”

Starting Oct. 23rd, Arizonans who wish to host their own drive can pick up flyers, wish lists, and empty drive boxes from The Foster Alliance Resource Center. Once collected, gifts can be dropped off at the Resource Center, as well as participating Copper State Credit Unions, Banner Physical Therapy offices, and Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International locations. In addition, The Foster Alliance will host three dedicated “Fill Santa’s Sleigh” events in collaboration with the following Greater Phoenix venues’ hosts. Each event will have both “stay-and-play” and “drive-and-drop” options for supporters.

· Tuesday, Nov 28th, and Wednesday, Nov 29th, Desert Farm Lights in the West Valley will partner with The Foster Alliance as an official present drop-off location. All donors and foster children will receive a $3.50 discount on their admission on these nights.

· Thursday, Nov. 30th, families can bring presents to donate to The Pratt Brother’s Christmas at Rawhide for a special Foster Alliance night. Santa photos will be available at no extra charge and all donors and foster children will receive 70% off admission through Dec. 24th.

· Friday, Dec.8th, The Foster Alliance will partner with the M3F Music Festival to put on a free benefit concert at the Scottsdale Quarter across from Culinary Dropout. This event will also feature favorite holiday and Disney characters, a sleigh to fill with donated gifts and giveaways.

On December 14th, 15th, and 16th, The Foster Alliance will host their annual Holiday Joy Fest, where foster families can visit The Foster Alliance Resource Center to pick out gifts for the children in their care. In addition to the Fest, The Foster Alliance mobile unit will make three

Holiday Joy Express deliveries to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) offices in Tucson, Flagstaff, and Apache Junction.

The Foster Alliance will continue to accept toy donations into 2024 as the donated toys and gifts also support The Foster Alliance Birthday Dreams program, where they provide birthday gifts to children in foster care year-round.

“Providing presents for every foster child in Arizona is a lofty goal,” said Eggleston. “And it’s one we can accomplish together.”

To help provide the best gifts possible, The Foster Alliance created a list of this year’s most requested gifts for teens, toddlers, artists, future scientists, and more. For gift ideas, as well as more information about The Foster Alliance and the Holiday Joy Drive, please visit http://thefosteralliance.org/holidaytoydrive/

Holiday Joy Drive is presented by Sundt Construction and is made possible by the organization’s #FosterAlly Partners: Waymo, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Russ Lyon Foundation, Breakthru Beverage of Arizona, E&K Companies, Dark Sky Brewing Company, PCL Construction, Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy, and Alerus Financial.

About The Foster Alliance

The mission of The Foster Alliance is to support the foster care community, by providing essentials to benefit children in foster care and to help them thrive on every step of their journey. As Arizona’s largest provider of essential resources, we offer foster care families beds, cribs, clothing, diapers, and personal care items as well as backpacks with school supplies to help children succeed in school and fulfill birthday dreams to help raise self-esteem. Additionally, we provide state-required home safety items to help families become licensed providers by ensuring they can offer a safe home environment. Three words describe The Foster Alliance: compassionate, human, and innovative. To learn more or to become a #FosterAlly, visit http://www.thefosteralliance.org.