Small acts of service can add up to a big difference, and help create traditions in our community that last long after the holiday season.

For families in Gladden Farms, giving back can be an opportunity to spend meaningful time together and show our Gladden Farms kiddos what it means to care for the community they call home.

Strong communities start with caring neighbors and there are plenty of ways to make a difference right here in Marana and throughout Southern Arizona.

Giving back can be as simple as donating to a food drive, choosing a gift for a child in need, spending a morning volunteering or lending a hand to a neighbor.

Why is volunteering as a family important?

Some of the most meaningful lessons children learn happen outside the classroom.

Volunteering as a family helps children see firsthand how small actions can create change. Gladden kids can help select items for a donation drive, collect food for a local pantry or join their parents in a service project.

What matters most isn’t the size of the contribution, it’s understanding the purpose behind it.

Parents can create a more meaningful experience by talking with their children along the way and discussing topics such as:

• Why did your family choose this cause?
• Who will your donation help?
• What other ways could you help someone in your community?

Those conversations can transform a one-time holiday activity into something children carry with them as they grow.

Meet Kathy Zoellner: a neighborly role model at Gladden Farms

For longtime Gladden Farms resident Kathy Zoellner, giving back means “paying it forward.” She and her husband, Bill, shared a love of volunteering throughout their marriage, and that spirit of service continued after they moved to Gladden Farms in 2012.

Since Bill’s passing in 2022, Kathy continues volunteering in his memory, serving as a Board Member, helping with the Lifestyle Committee and supporting community events throughout the neighborhood.

Kathy has taken on one of Gladden Farms’ most recognizable volunteer roles as Bella the Bunny at the community’s Easter event for 10 years running.

Kathy also helps welcome new homeowners, encourages others to get involved and works alongside fellow residents strengthening the connections within Gladden Farms.

As a special education teacher, she understands the importance of setting a positive example for children and demonstrating that service can be both meaningful and fun. “When they smile, I smile and that is my paycheck.”

“One hour of volunteering is better than no time volunteering,” Kathy said. She encourages families to start small, include their children when they can and find opportunities that fit naturally into their schedules.

Giving back takes many forms, and sometimes the best examples are right next door.

Ways to give back around Marana

Looking for volunteer organizations to support this holiday season and possibly long term? In Marana, there are several local organizations, programs and donation opportunities families can explore.

Food drive donations

Food insecurity is a year-round challenge, making local food assistance organizations an important resource for neighbors in every season.

The Marana Food Bank and Community Resource Center is an option for Gladden Farms residents interested in helping address needs close to home. Donations are encouraged throughout the year during distribution hours. See food item list.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona also offers numerous ways to serve. Volunteers support efforts including packing and sorting food, food distribution, community gardens and other programs throughout Southern Arizona. The organization specifically lists monthly mobile distributions in Marana among its volunteer opportunities.

Closer to Gladden Farms, Community Food Bank mobile distributions also take place in Picture Rocks and donations are accepted the fourth Friday of the month, providing emergency and senior food boxes to community members.

Whether your family contributes food, time or other resources, supporting hunger-relief efforts is one tangible way to turn gratitude into action.

Volunteer with habitat for humanity Tucson

For those who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves, Habitat for Humanity Tucson offers another way to make an impact.

Habitat volunteers help support the organization’s work to build, repair and preserve homes throughout Tucson and surrounding communities.

Opportunities extend beyond construction, too, with roles supporting events, outreach, administrative work and working at the HabiStore. Habitat says volunteers of all skill levels are welcome, and it also provides options for school-related community service for teens 16 years of age and older.

It’s a fitting reminder that “building community” can sometimes be quite literal.

Make the holidays brighter for local families

Giving back can also become part of your family’s own holiday traditions.

The Marana Unified School District Holiday Share program connects families experiencing need with community members who can help provide food, gifts and other necessities during the holidays. Donors can adopt a family or contribute to the program through Student and Family Support Services.

Participating in a program like Holiday Share with kids can make generosity especially tangible. Consider involving them in choosing gifts or necessities and explaining why your family has decided to help another family celebrate the season.

Some more toy dropoff locations can be found at the Pima County Toy Drive website.

Make giving back a year-round family tradition

The holidays may inspire us to give, but kindness doesn’t need a season.

The Town of Marana welcomes volunteers for opportunities ranging from one-day projects to ongoing programs. Residents can complete the Town’s volunteer form and be connected with the appropriate department based on available opportunities.

That flexibility can make volunteering easier to fit into different family schedules, and provides a way to stay involved long after the holidays are over.

Strong communities start with caring neighbors

There is plenty to be thankful for at Gladden Farms, but the strength of a community isn’t measured only by the amenities within it. It’s reflected in how its neighbors care for one another.

This holiday season, consider turning thankfulness into action. Donate an item. Volunteer in the afternoon. Check on a neighbor. Choose a cause your family cares about and make it your own tradition.

When kindness becomes part of everyday life, gratitude has a way of growing more meaningful and bringing families and neighbors together to strengthen the community we call home.