At a networking event in 2010, Chelsea Cabanillas met the evening’s speaker, Ginnie Rowe, from The Singletons Board of Directors. The Singletons mission, to offer practical support to single parent families diagnosed with cancer, immediately spoke to Chelsea’s heart. In her words, “I was hooked. I had to get involved.” (more…)
The Singletons Kitchen is one of the core pillars of The Singletons program. Its purpose is to provide delicious family-style meals, made with fresh ingredients and offer a simple answer to the ever-present question, “What’s for dinner? And portions are generous enough to leave a few leftovers, too!
Singleton parents wishing to receive meals simply sign up each month on our parent portal and select which type of protein they prefer ~ chicken, beef, pork, or seafood. A variety of meals are ordered by The Singletons at Dream Dinners, and assembled once a month by wonderful volunteer groups (who register to participate by contacting The Singletons office). When meal-prep is finished, we freeze the meals until the third Saturday of each month. Families receive their entrees, some sides and /or breakfast pockets at the same time they receive their Bare Necessities bundles.
What happens when a group arrives at Dream Dinners? Our Singletons Kitchen Hostess(es) along with Dream Dinners staff will be there to greet them. They’ll hear The Singletons story and then get quick instructions about how to put the meals together. Volunteers split up around the room, 2-3 at each station. They each follow well marked recipes, and create delicious meals with provided utensils, kitchen tools and packaging. They measure the already chopped, sliced and grated ingredients – the same foods you’d have in your own kitchen. Every meal includes easy-to-cook instructions and is stored in the refrigerator until they are taken to The Singletons freezers.
We like to say that these are kid-friendly meals, not only for the taste, but also because even a child as young as 11 or so can put dinner together, with just a little supervision from Mom or Dad.
Check out our calendar for available dates and more information on how to book this volunteer event.
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So many people in our community are willing to stand strong with us, and support single parent families dealing with cancer. They are an invaluable resource, and we are sincerely grateful for the time, referrals, the helping-hands, and monetary donations. These are essential to providing the best program services we can to our Singleton families. Here’s how you can plug in…
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Each month we host meal preparation events at Dream Dinners (location changes monthly). Volunteers from corporate, community or faith based groups mix/measure/package ingredients to create fresh family meals, which are then frozen and distributed to our families. Meals are packed with instructions (often simple enough for a child, 10 years and up, to cook). Typically designed for groups of 10-12 participants.
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Bare Necessities are items that keep the home running smoothly: laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, paper towel, toilet paper, etc. Host a donation drive to collect the household supplies from our provided list and bring to our warehouse in North Phoenix. Surprisingly, the items on our list are excluded from SNAP, or government assistance funds so it is truly a big help to our families.
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Spend a few hours at our office each month and fill the orders that our families requested from the Bare Necessities list. This usually takes place in the middle of the month, for a few hours. 1-2 people
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By request from a family, volunteers deliver the Bare Necessities bundles and frozen meals to those who asked for the items to be delivered. These volunteers must submit a background check (available through our office – cost is $15).
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Easy to do from any location, our office or yours! You / your family / your office / your club or group can roll sets of plastic cutlery (ie: a plastic fork, knife & spoon) into a napkin. Tie a pretty ribbon around the rolled up napkin and you’re done!
Many times, a patient going through treatment complain of a metallic taste in their mouth. Patients tell us that plastic ware makes eating a little more tolerable. And we think the individual sets, wrapped in a ribbon, is just a nice touch for mealtime.
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We have an abundance of brand new clothes, jewelry, and misc. items donated by generous retailers. Our families got first ‘dibs’ and we need to make room by selling the rest at super low prices. Event dates: August 24th & 25th, 7am-1pm. All proceeds benefit programs for our Singleton families. Help is needed August 22-23 to prepare and set up, or August 24th & Aug 25th, for one of the fours shifts of our sale event.
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A fun & fabulous opportunity to move your muscles in whatever way you choose! You can walk, run, pedal, swim, ski, motorcycle, skate …just have a great time. Create teams from your office, get your neighbors together, register your family and do something fun together… use your imagination and have a great time supporting single parent families who are dealing with cancer. Get out and move, the world as your gym.
Online registration opens in Sept. We only ask that you register (ie: you are not soliciting funds, just having fun). Registered participants receive a race t-shirt and participation medal. Volunteers are needed to help spread the word and encourage people from every state to participate! Use your voice, your clout, your social media, email and enthusiasm to encourage others to register.
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Every holiday season, The Singletons organization helps brighten an often gloomy, overwhelming time of year by providing our families with holiday gifts. Sign up to sponsor a family and shop from the family wish lists. Wrapped gifts are dropped off at our office in North Phoenix the week before our holiday event.
The day of our holiday event, we also need volunteers to help provide and oversee a children’s craft /activity area, or our gift shop where the kids are able to pick out something special for their parent(s). “Store Assistants” and “Gift Wrappers” are needed to help this run smoothly.
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Fundraising events always need extra help to prepare for the program, many weeks leading up to the program, as well as the day of the event. We are forming committees for our Gala in February 2019, which will be held at Harley Davidson, in Scottsdale. There will be food, raffles, live music, silent and live auctions and fun. Please let us know if you like to be part of an event-specific task and help plan and execute a successful event.
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To Be Determined in coming months – Individuals or groups purchase and fill birthday gift bags with all the supplies needed for “a birthday party in a bag” Start with a fun, colorful gift bag. Fill it with a package or two of birthday plates, beverage cups, balloons, candles, cake mix /frosting, streamers or banners, goodie bags (and maybe some fun treats or toys to fill those with). Help a family celebrate their child’s birthday!
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Give each year, or each month – we are always so grateful for individual donors !
Do you live in Arizona? The state offers a benefit to donating to a Qualifying Charitable Tax Organization. The AZ Department of Revenue allows you to donate to a Qualifying Charity and they’ll credit or refund the entire amount on your taxes, (up to $400 per individual / $800 per married filing joint return). This means you can make a generous donation, and the state of Arizona pays you back.
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In addition to “usual” monetary contributions, you help us out if you shop on Amazon Smile, smile.amazon.com and select The Singletons / Singleton Moms as the charity you want Amazon to donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases (which is most items). You use your same log in for www.smile.amazon.com
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Facebook fundraising from your personal page is quick and easy. If you have a reason to ask others for financial support on behalf of Singletons / Singleton Moms, then Facebook is an easy way to spread the word and help raise funds.
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Bring your friends, family and co-workers to our fundraising events – we promise a great time!
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Darlene has been a dedicated volunteer with The Singletons, since its inception, as Singleton Moms. While working full time and raising a family of four children, she knew time was very precious, but still wanted to find some way to to help with a local cause. More than that, Darlene wanted to help make a difference, no matter how big or how small.
Thank you to Phoenix Community ToolBank for this beautiful write up on their Facebook page. (more…)
Who do you call when you’re a single parent, going through cancer treatment, and your rosebushes are OUT OF CONTROL? (more…)
Singleton Moms had the opportunity to team up with the Arizona Coyote hockey players. The guys packed up Bare Necessities bags, meals, and back to school supplies for our families. It was such a pleasure to see young players who have the whole world in front of them, giving back to the community. (more…)
June’s Bare Necessities Day was a huge success despite the intense summer heat. (more…)
Volunteers, Melissa, Alex, Jessica and Lindsay transformed Singleton “Mom”, Renee’s, master bedroom through their Room for Recovery Program. (more…)