In 2011, Compassion Clinic volunteers in Arizona realized that ongoing care outside the scope of the clinic would be required to address the serious humanitarian needs in their region. In response, they innovated an idea for a community resource center that could serve struggling individuals and families all year long, which they christened the Compassion Care Center. The Care Center, opened in 2016, helps individuals and families thrive by connecting them to local resources including pregnancy services, emergency food boxes, clothing, education and job services, housing, counseling, and more.
The Care Center helps build relationships between local agencies and the Church so that both can serve their neighbors on a deeper level. Last year, Arizona’s Compassion Care Center served over 300 families and provided over $68,000 in care.
San Tan Valley, AZ— When *Nadia Arellano’s employer discovered she was pregnant, everything changed.
She had been working as a carpenter for a construction company, but after they found out about her pregnancy, safety restrictions required she be laid off–leaving her not only pregnant but jobless, and the primary provider for her three children.
Without a job Nadia couldn’t afford housing, so for three months the four survived by living in their storage unit and car.
With the help of volunteers and resources from the Compassion Care Center, the family was able to enter a shelter as a temporary solution. But Nadia’s 14 year old daughter ran away while they were there, and because of their living situation Nadia was too afraid to call the police for help. Her daughter eventually came back, but Nadia still doesn’t know where she was or who she was with during that time.
“Without a job Nadia couldn’t afford housing, so for three months the four survived by living in their storage unit and car.”
After being accepted into the “Dream Catcher” program with the Community Action Human Resources Agency (CAHRA), one of the Care Center’s partner organizations, the Care Center was able to secure transitional housing (a hotel) while the family waited for their apartment to be ready. Care Center volunteers were able to provide the family with food gift cards and Starbucks sandwiches since any food they ate in the hotel had to be microwavable. Compassionate donors also made it possible to provide the family with diapers, clothes, baby items, gift cards for gas, and more.
It’s Hard to Ask for Help
According to Jennelle Esquivel, Compassion Connect Arizona’s Regional Director, “What Nadia needed most from the Care Center was an advocate. It’s very obvious she’s not used to asking for help because she doesn’t question anything or push anyone. The hotel had told them they had to check out right after I had told her I was renewing the room, and instead of calling me and telling me they did that, she just left with the girls. If I hadn’t called her later in the day she would have been back staying in her car because she didn’t want to bother me in case I had changed my mind about extending the room.”
But thanks to the caring individuals and churches who support the work of Compassion Connect Arizona, these amazing ladies finally have a place to call home. They signed a lease for an apartment of their own, received the keys, and were able to receive all the furnishings for their new space thanks to generous donors!
Nadia and her girls were excited to have their picture taken when the team promised to send it to the people who make the Compassion Care Center possible.
It Really Does Take A Village
We are so thankful for the Compassion Care Center’s partnerships with organizations like CAHRA, Epic Food Mission, Encanterra’s Community Service League, House of Timothy and local churches who all contributed to help this family become stable.
But without our amazing volunteers and donors, the Compassion Care Center wouldn’t exist to advocate, honor, and provide resources for families like Nadia’s. The work we do is truly made possible by the everyday people of faith God has called to this mission of united service and compassion.
Interested in learning more about the Compassion Care Center, and how to start one in your own community? Download our free pdf here!
*Name changed
