The Arizona Interfaith Movement’s America250 9/11 Day of Service

Thank you all for making this wonderful day happen! The Arizona Interfaith Movement’s America250 9/11 Day of Service was centered on bringing people together—lifting up those in our community as we worked side by side with people of different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.

More than 600+ volunteers came together to serve at 20 different service projects, united by a shared purpose: to serve our community. It was a powerful demonstration that we do not have to believe alike to stand together in love, unity, and service.

With your help, volunteers packed pinto beans, rice, lentils, garbanzo beans, cereal, and oatmeal; prepared sack lunches and snack bags; collected food, clothing, and shoes; sorted and cleaned donated books; tied quilts; made bags, bookmarks, and bracelets; wrote Christmas cards and encouraging notes; donated blood—and so much more.

A Day Filled with Leadership, Music, Celebration

An invocation was given by AZIFM Interfaith Council Member Dr. Helen Hunter. Our fearless leader, Albert Celoza, served as our Master of Ceremonies and helped bring the entire day together with his energy. You were absolutely amazing. Live entertainment was provided by Hip Hop Homies, Brent Bowden, Loma Vista Dance Ensemble, Higher Vibrations, and Les Koel, adding music, energy, and celebration to a day already filled with service.

The America250 JustServe Heart of Service Awards recognized:

• Joan Sisco — USMC Veteran; Founder & CEO, Veterans First Ltd.
• Dr. Sanghoon Yoo — Founder, The Faithful City; AZIFM
• Rana Singh Sodhi — Sikh Peace Builder; AZIFM

We were also pleased to serve alongside Councilmember Jenn Duff and her staff, who joined us along with young adults who staffed and put together our nacho bar. Our Community Impact

• 1,875 pounds of food collected and donated to St. Vincent de Paul, benefiting approximately 75 families for 2–3 days.
• 119 bookmarks created for Gathering Humanity to assist refugees with their reading.
• 70 keychains created by children for Helen’s Hope Chest.
• 200 ghost suckers donated to Smiles for Special Needs and Paz de Cristo.
• 600 oatmeal packets donated to Fountain of Life Mission Kitchen and St. Ann’s Catholic Church to help stock their food pantries.
• 30+ volunteers donated blood through the Sant Nirankari Mission and Vitalant.
• 2,300 books collected, sorted, and cleaned for the Arizona Center for African American Resources (ACAA) to support its literacy program.
• 30 bags sewn for Helen’s Hope Chest to help provide children rescued from neglect and abuse with needed clothing and hygiene items.
• 129 packets of Honey Nut Cheerios packed for Fountain of Life Mission Kitchen and St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
• 122 packets of Cheerios packed for Fountain of Life Mission Kitchen and St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
• 139 packets of Honey Bunches of Oats packed for Fountain of Life Mission Kitchen and St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
• 550 food packets packaged with rice, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, and lentils for Matthew House, which serves refugees, and St. Vincent de Paul.
• 400 snack bags prepared for La Mesa Ministries, serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
• 370 Christmas cards written for La Mesa Ministries.
• 300 loving messages attached to canned food and ramen noodles for food boxes donated to Fountain of Life Mission Kitchen and St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
• 400 Rice Krispies Treat sleeves decorated with positive messages for Paz de Cristo’s To-Go bags for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Two truckloads of children’s and youth clothing collected and sorted to benefit the American Muslim Women’s Association.
• Six blankets quilted to benefit Gathering Humanity.
• 200 sandwiches prepared for 100 lunch sacks benefiting A New Leaf’s East Valley Men’s Center.
• The Church of Scientology distributed cases of cold water to volunteers outside during collections

Thank you to all that made this happen! 

Let’s do it again,

Judy Renfro – AZIFM Board