Arizona Helping Hands Partners with 12-year old in Tuba City!

foster children dreaming about college

A heart-warming story and a press release that deserves publishing word for word!  We Are Their Future celebrates Chance Peterson, a twelve year old, as an everyday hero. changing other children’s lives.  Chance is partnering with Arizona Helping Hands to help Arizona foster children on the Navajo Nation reservation.   This is worth the read, and reprint!  And share!

Twelve year old boy partners with ARIZONA HELPING HANDS to help kids in Tuba City!

(Scottsdale, AZ) — 12 year old Chance Peterson has spent much of his youth in and out of Phoenix Children’s Hospital (“PCH”). Despite his young age, he has seen the needs of other children and has made the commitment to do what he can Arizona Helping Hands logoto make lives better for needy youth. On Saturday September 9th, Chance will partner with Arizona Helping Hands (“AHH”) to take truckloads of supplies and basic needs to assist children in foster care in Tuba City, Arizona.

Chance met a young girl at PCH who was a member of the Navajo Nation and in their foster care system. Through this contact he met Elsie Elthie, a caseworker from Tuba City and learned of the huge need for support for kids in northeastern Arizona. There are currently approximately 500 children in foster care spread over the reservation’s 27,000 square miles. Elsie’s caseload averages 65 children and spans 5,549 square miles in North Coconino County. Many of her families do not have running water or electricity, and their needs are extensive.

Chance decided he wanted to help Elsie, her families and other children on the reservation. Using his youthful initiative, he connected with local schools through which he collected unclaimed lost and found items. He has solicited other community support and gathered cases of water, plus toiletries, feminine hygiene products and more. On social media he connected with Dan Shufelt, President and CEO of AHH. Hearing of Chance’s dream to help the children on the reservation, Dan offered the use of the AHH box truck and much more. Arizona Helping Hands will be adding to Chance’s efforts by providing beds and cribs to children on the reservation. Backpacks filled with school supplies, diapers, toys, lunch bags, personal care items and other needs will also be loaded onto the AHH truck for the 4 hour drive to make a difference for so many boys and girls.

“Arizona Helping Hands is so proud to partner with a wonderful young man who is teaching us all the importance of caring for kids” says Dan Shufelt. “This effort will have a huge impact on needy children of the Navajo Nation.” Donations of feminine hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, bar soap, baby care items, snacks, juices, granola bars and more are being solicited for this effort. Monetary donations are also welcome at www.azhelpinghands.org.

EVENT INFORMATION:

  • 9/8/17 at 10AM – Truck loading at Arizona Helping Hands, 7850 E Gelding Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
  • 9/9/17 at 5AM – Caravan to leave AHH for travel to Tuba City, AZ
  • 9/9/17 – 10AM to Noon MDT – Unloading at Louise Yellowman Park, North Main St, Tuba City, AZ

Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of basic needs to Arizona’s kids in foster care. For more information visit www.azhelpinghands.org.

Everyone can do something, and Chance Peterson is a powerful example of that!